Donkey business: Rs80m worth of donkey hides seized in export shipment to China

The Collectorate of Customs Enforcement at Karachi has managed to halt a major smuggling operation, confiscating 14 tons of donkey hides that were being illegally shipped to China. As per reports, the hides were falsely labelled as leather products to facilitate the clearance process and were worth approximately Rs80 million.

Donkey hides are highly sought after in China, where gelatin extracted from the hides is used in beauty products and traditional medicine. Reports have revealed that a key official from the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement has commended the relevant stakeholders involved in the seizure. Under Pakistani law, the export of donkey hides is prohibited under export policy regulations.

The Collectorate is responsible for curbing transnational smuggling operations and analysing suspicious cargo to verify whether the contents align with their declared labels. While the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement typically deals with the seizure of contraband such as cigarettes, vehicles, and petroleum products, customs officials maintain strict vigilance even over shipments that may not initially appear suspicious, ensuring that smuggling activities remain effectively curbed.

At the South Asia Pakistan Port Terminal (SAPT) in Karachi, the Risk Management Profiling System identified a questionable consignment containing 285 packages that were mislabeled as leather goods. Reports suggest that the container, numbered SEGU-3154225 and carrying the donkey hides, was initially cleared by the Customs Export Collectorate.

However, officials later handed the container over to the Anti-Smuggling Department for inspection. Upon examination, customs officers discovered that the cargo contained donkey hides instead of genuine leather, prompting them to initiate legal proceedings.

According to reports, the Anti-Smuggling Department relocated the seized donkey hides to their warehouse for safekeeping. Moreover, legal action has been initiated against the exporter under the provisions of the Customs Act.

Chinese demand for donkey meat and hides led to a meeting between Zhao Fei, Vice President of China's Donkey Industry Branch, and Pakistan's Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer, in April 2025. As per reports, China expressed its interest in establishing donkey farms across Pakistan.

Facilities proposed to meet China’s demand for donkey meat are intended to ensure that the domestic donkey population is not depleted by mass hunting operations. These farms are expected to operate under strict oversight to ensure full compliance with legal and ethical standards.

China reportedly plans to set up donkey farms in Gwadar’s export processing zone, along with the necessary infrastructure to transport meat and hides to the Gwadar port.