Once Essential, Donkeys Struggle to Survive in Karachi

AFP

Karachi: Droves of braying donkeys, once a vital part of Karachi’s commercial transport system, are gradually being phased out due to rising costs and the city’s rapid urban expansion.

Traditionally, donkey carts have been essential for moving goods through the narrow streets of Karachi’s wholesale markets, where regular vehicles cannot operate.

For low-income workers, owning a donkey has historically provided financial stability due to low overhead costs and the animals’ resilience. However, inflation has driven up the price of feed, and the city’s sprawling growth has made long distances increasingly difficult for donkeys to manage.

Mohammad Atif, a 27-year-old donkey cart owner, spends around 750 rupees daily on hay, compared to 200 rupees in the past, making it hard to sustain his livelihood. “You can’t make a living in this line of work anymore,” he said from the colonial-era Bolton Market.

Karachi is home to a significant portion of Pakistan’s nearly six million donkeys, but their demand has plummeted. Animal broker Aslam Shah noted that donkeys are now rarely sold at the city’s weekly animal market.

As Karachi grows, expressways and overpasses have become off-limits to donkey carts, with more efficient motorised vehicles replacing them. Donkey cart drivers, like 21-year-old Ali Usman, are losing work to faster rickshaws that can make multiple trips in the time it takes a donkey to complete one.

Despite the decline, some believe donkeys still hold a place in Karachi’s informal economy. Noman Farhat, a wholesaler at Empress Market, tries to give donkey cart owners some work out of respect for their cultural significance.

However, animal welfare activists have expressed concern over the mistreatment of donkeys due to inadequate resources, with many animals suffering from skin wounds and muzzle injuries.

Sheema Khan, manager of the Benji Project animal shelter, insists that donkeys remain a crucial part of the city’s transport system. “Despite the harsh conditions, they are still the cheapest form of transport,” she said.

Veteran cart driver Ghulam Rasool, 76, is optimistic that donkeys will continue to play a role in Karachi’s future. “This work will never end, it will endure till doomsday,” he said, as his family loaded goods onto their carts.

Droves of braying donkeys, once a vital part of Karachi’s commercial transport system, are gradually being phased out due to rising costs and the city’s rapid urban expansion.

Traditionally, donkey carts have been essential for moving goods through the narrow streets of Karachi’s wholesale markets, where regular vehicles cannot operate.

For low-income workers, owning a donkey has historically provided financial stability due to low overhead costs and the animals’ resilience. However, inflation has driven up the price of feed, and the city’s sprawling growth has made long distances increasingly difficult for donkeys to manage.

Mohammad Atif, a 27-year-old donkey cart owner, spends around 750 rupees daily on hay, compared to 200 rupees in the past, making it hard to sustain his livelihood. “You can’t make a living in this line of work anymore,” he said from the colonial-era Bolton Market.

Karachi is home to a significant portion of Pakistan’s nearly six million donkeys, but their demand has plummeted. Animal broker Aslam Shah noted that donkeys are now rarely sold at the city’s weekly animal market.

As Karachi grows, expressways and overpasses have become off-limits to donkey carts, with more efficient motorised vehicles replacing them. Donkey cart drivers, like 21-year-old Ali Usman, are losing work to faster rickshaws that can make multiple trips in the time it takes a donkey to complete one.

Despite the decline, some believe donkeys still hold a place in Karachi’s informal economy. Noman Farhat, a wholesaler at Empress Market, tries to give donkey cart owners some work out of respect for their cultural significance.

However, animal welfare activists have expressed concern over the mistreatment of donkeys due to inadequate resources, with many animals suffering from skin wounds and muzzle injuries.

Sheema Khan, manager of the Benji Project animal shelter, insists that donkeys remain a crucial part of the city’s transport system. “Despite the harsh conditions, they are still the cheapest form of transport,” she said.

Veteran cart driver Ghulam Rasool, 76, is optimistic that donkeys will continue to play a role in Karachi’s future. “This work will never end, it will endure till doomsday,” he said, as his family loaded goods onto their carts.