Pakistan's Donkey Population Rises To 5.9 Million In FY23-24. Why Are They Important For The Economy?

The annual survey, presented by Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, detailed various economic achievements and highlighted the critical role of livestock in the agrarian economy

The population of donkeys in Pakistan has seen a significant increase of 1.72 per cent, reaching 5.9 million during the fiscal year 2023-24, according to the latest Pakistan Economic Survey (PES) 2023-24 released on Tuesday. This increment underscores the steady rise in the donkey population, which was recorded at 5.5 million in 2019-2020, 5.6 million in 2020-21, 5.7 million in 2021-22, and 5.8 million in 2022-23.

The annual survey, presented by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, detailed various economic achievements and highlighted the critical role of livestock in the agrarian economy. While the number of donkeys has increased, their close relatives, horses and mules, have shown no growth in the past five years, maintaining steady populations of 0.4 million and 0.2 million, respectively.

Why Donkeys Are Important For Pak Economy

In rural Pakistan, donkeys are vital to the local economy, serving as essential beasts of burden. This trend of rising donkey numbers contrasts with the static populations of other working animals.

The PES also provided updates on other livestock statistics. The cattle population increased to 57.5 million, buffalo to 46.3 million, sheep to 32.7 million, and goats to 87 million. Notably, the camel population, which had remained unchanged for four years, grew from 1.1 million to 1.2 million in the past fiscal year.

Donkeys may be the last hope for many Pakistanis, especially those living in the countryside, where the rural economy is closely associated with the animals.

Livestock remains the cornerstone of Pakistan’s rural economy, with over 8 million families engaged in animal husbandry. The sector represents 60.84 per cent of the agricultural value added and 14.63 per cent of the national GDP. In FY23-24, the livestock sector's growth was recorded at 3.89 per cent, up from 3.70 per cent in the previous fiscal year. The gross value addition of the livestock sector rose to Rs 5,804 billion from Rs 5,587 billion, marking a growth rate of 3.9 per cent.

Overall, the livestock sector continues to be a major driver of agricultural growth, underscoring its vital role in Pakistan's economic stability and development.

Despite an increase in the donkey population, Pakistan's economic performance has not met expectations. The economy is projected to grow by only 2.4 per cent in the current fiscal year, significantly below the government's target of 3.5 per cent, according to the latest economic survey.