Pakistan records growth in Donkey’s population one again.
Pakistan’s donkey population has surged to 5.9 million in the fiscal year 2023-24, marking an increase of 100,000 from the previous year.
The recently presented Economic Survey highlights a consistent upward trend in donkey numbers over the past few years.
The population 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.
Also read: Bride and groom use donkeycart to reach wedding venue
The survey also provided comprehensive data on other livestock population in Pakistan.
Cattle numbers have risen to 57.5 million, buffaloes to 46.3 million, sheep to 32.7 million, and goats to 87 million.
Interestingly, the populations of horses and mules have remained steady at 0.4 million and 0.2 million, respectively, for the past five years.
However, the camel population has seen a slight increase, growing to 1.2 million from 1.1 million in the previous fiscal year.
Pakistani media has long been obsessed with the number of donkeys in the Economic Survey. This year, the Pakistan Economic Survey 2023-24 reports an increase of 100,000, bringing the total to 5.9 million. Pakistan, with the world’s third largest donkey population, plans to earn… pic.twitter.com/4THQMjUDCK
— Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) June 11, 2024
Livestock production remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s rural economy, involving over 8 million rural families.
This sector significantly contributes to their livelihoods, accounting for 35-40 percent of their total income.
On a broader economic scale, livestock is a major driver of agricultural growth, contributing approximately 60.84 percent of the agricultural value added and 14.63 percent of the national GDP in FY2024.
The survey further revealed that the gross value addition of the livestock sector increased to Rs 5,804 billion in 2023-24, up from Rs 5,587 billion in 2022-23, reflecting a growth rate of 3.9 percent.
Additionally, the sector’s net foreign exchange earnings are significant, representing around 1.6 percent of Pakistan’s total exports.
