Construction of Slaughterhouse in Gwadar for Donkey Meat Export to China Underway, PM Briefed

Islamabad: Pakistan is progressing with the construction of a slaughterhouse in Gwadar to export donkey meat to China, which is expected to provide daily employment to approximately one thousand locals. According to Express News, a delegation from Hengeng Trading Company, led by Chairman Zhang Bin, met with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervez Malik, and senior government officials participated in the meeting. The Chinese delegation briefed the Prime Minister that Hengeng Trading Company is investing in agriculture, livestock, pharmaceuticals, and other sectors in Pakistan. The company is constructing a state-of-the-art slaughterhouse in Gwadar at a cost of $50 million, aimed at enhancing facilities for livestock. Once completed, the slaughterhouse is expected to generate annual revenues of up to $30 million for Pakistan’s livestock sector.
During the briefing, it was highlighted that the slaughterhouse will create new employment opportunities for local residents, with Hengeng Trading Company planning to process pharmaceutical products in Gwadar Free Zone for export to China.
The Prime Minister welcomed Chinese investments in Pakistan, recalling successful business-to-business agreements between Pakistani and Chinese companies during his recent visit to China. He expressed Pakistan’s desire to benefit from China’s achievements in the agriculture sector and directed the Gwadar Port Authority to provide all possible facilities to Chinese companies.
He emphasized ensuring uninterrupted utilities in Gwadar Free Zone and noted that the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce had approved the establishment of the slaughterhouse in Gwadar Zone on January 18, aimed at exporting donkey meat directly to China. The committee was briefed that breeding farms for donkeys would be established across all four provinces, with the slaughterhouse exclusively located in Gwadar Free Economic Zone for direct export to China, thereby avoiding inclusion of donkey meat in the country’s food chain.
It was noted that Pakistan’s donkey population has been steadily increasing, reaching 5.8 million by June 2023.