CHINA’S interest in importing dogs and donkeys from Pakistan has been a subject of active discussion on social media and some news channels. The interest is said to have surfaced at a recent meeting in Islamabad during which it was highlighted that China wanted to import dogs and donkeys because of increased local demand and decreased production.

Having world’s third-largest population of donkeys — 5.7 million animals at present — Pakistan must make the most of this opportunity and materialise its comparative advantage. The export of unfettered stray dogs to China can resolve its domestic dilemma of killing or vaccinating the canine population while dealing with life-threatening incidents of dog-bites.

According to an estimation done in 2014, humans around the world reportedly consume 25 million dogs each year. Keeping this in mind, the authorities should think about turning this issue of unrestrained stray dogs in the country’s favour. In fact, this is not the first time that Pakistan will export animals to China as it has done so in the past as well.

In the face of declining forex reserves and prolonged economic crunch, the country must grab every opportunity to widen its fiscal space. Pakistan should export stray dogs to all the countries interested, including China, Vietnam, Nigeria, South Korea, Switzerland, etc., and earn foreign exchange instead of worrying about managing such animals.

Saman Aftab
Lahore

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2022