For several years Pakistani media has been obsessed with the number of donkeys in the Economic Survey. The number has increased this year as per the details in the Pakistan Economic Survey 2022-23.

According to the survey report, the donkeys’ population witnessed an increase of 100,000 to reach 5.8 million during the fiscal year 2022-23, compared with 5.7 million during the previous fiscal year.

Likewise, the number of buffaloes reached 45 million, showing a growth of 1.3 million from 43.7 million in the last fiscal year.

The number of sheep in the country has also increased as it recorded a growth of 400,000 to clock in at 32.3 million during the ongoing fiscal year.

Similarly, the goats’ population has also grown, witnessing an increase of 2.2 million to reach 84.7 million during the fiscal year 2022-23, from 82.5 million during the previous fiscal year.

The number of other livestock remained unchanged as horses clocked in at 400,000, mules at 200,000, and camels remained at 1.1 million during the current fiscal year.

There have been reports in the local and international media that Pakistan has been planning to earn millions of dollars annually in foreign exchange by exporting donkeys to China.

Pakistan has the world’s third largest population of donkeys with more than 5 million animals, while China stands at number one.