Donkeys’ population increases by 300,000

ISLAMABAD: Donkeys’ population during the PTI-government has increased by three hundred thousand, while the other pack animals’ population growth is almost stagnant. With the addition of these 0.3 million donkeys, its total population reached up to 5.6 million, maintaining distinction of being third largest country in donkey population. In Pakistan, donkey is the only pack animal,

whose population is increasing by 100,000 each year since 2001/02, while other animals including camel, horses and mule’s population growth is stagnant for the last 13 years, the Pakistan’s Economic Survey 2020-21 revealed.

It is worth mentioning that during five-year tenure of each PMLN and PPP governments, there was increase of 400,000 donkeys.

President General (R) Pervez Musharraf took a decade to add six-hundred thousand donkeys, while Nawaz Sharif took only two-year to add the same number to its total population in 1999. Number of horses, camels and mules remained stagnant at 0.4 million, 1.1 million and 0.2 million respectively.

Donkeys’ population increased from 4.5 million in 2008-09 to 5.4 million in 2018-19. In 1997-98, there were 3.2 million donkeys and 3.8 million in 1999-00.

The number of horses in previous two governments of Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif remained stagnant at 0.4 million, and in Musharraf tenure it was stagnant 0.3 million.

During the tenure of incumbent government, buffalo’s population increased by 3.4 million to 42.4 million. During PMLN government its population increased by 5.1 million and in PPP government it increased by 4.7 million.

During last one year, goats’ population increased by 2.1 million to 80.3 million, sheep by 400,000 to 31.6 million.

Donkeys are being exported to China, which is highly prized there, especially for their hide, which is used to manufacture traditional Chinese medicines. Gelatin made from donkey skin has been long considered to have medicinal properties in China, traditionally being thought to nourish the blood and enhance the immune system.