The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Monday approved the export of donkey meat and hides from the Gwadar free zone to China, subject to safeguards recommended by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. Pakistan could earn millions of dollars from the exports, which would be carried out under a controlled arrangement. The ministry has proposed establishing farmhouses for raising donkeys, slaughtering them at dedicated facilities in Gwadar, and exporting the meat and hides from there to China.

The approval comes amid increased global demand for donkey meat and hides, with reports of ongoing efforts to smuggle hides from Pakistan. In the past, attempts to smuggle hides from African countries to China were also foiled. According to an official announcement issued by the Finance Ministry, the ECC meeting was held at the Finance Division under the chairmanship of Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb.

The ECC considered a Cabinet Division summary seeking a technical supplementary grant (TSG) of Rs12.6 billion for the purchase of bulletproof vehicles to be used for the movement of heads of state during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, which Pakistan will host in September 2027. After detailed deliberations, the committee approved a TSG of Rs6.6 billion for the purchase of 30 bulletproof vehicles and directed the Cabinet Division to revert with any additional requirement. It also ordered an in-depth needs analysis before any further demand is submitted.

The committee reviewed progress on various development projects and directed relevant authorities to ensure timely completion. The meeting was attended by federal ministers, advisers, and senior officials from relevant ministries, divisions, and regulatory authorities, who discussed the economic outlook and various policy measures to promote growth and trade across the country.