Pakistan to export donkey meat to China for popular burgers

Pakistan will export donkey meat and hides to China for popular burgers as China and Pakistan have recently signed an agreement.

According to the APP, the agreement took place during Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang’s visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting.

This agreement, between Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research and China’s General Administration of Customs, outlines quarantine requirements for these exports.

While it may seem unusual, donkey meat is a popular delicacy in China and is commonly used in various cuisines, including the well-known ‘Donkey Burger.’ This sandwich is a staple in regions like Baoding and Hejian, Hebei Province.

There’s even a famous saying in Baoding: “In Heaven, there is dragon meat, on Earth there is donkey meat,” underscoring the meat’s cultural significance.

Besides its use in burgers and other foods, donkey hides are prized for producing Ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicine believed to improve blood circulation.

Ejiao is used as a blood tonic, especially by individuals suffering from anemia or reproductive health issues.

The gelatin, derived from donkey skins through soaking and stewing, is primarily produced in China’s coastal provinces.