Multan, 16th October 2024 — A workshop on “Aquaculture Promotion & Development in Pakistan” was organized today by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) at Muhammad Nawaz Agriculture University, Multan. The event gathered key stakeholders from various ministries and departments to discuss Pakistan’s aquaculture potential, focusing on shrimp farming and recent developments in freshwater fisheries exports. Prominent speakers included Dr. Asif Raza (Dean, Veterinary & Animal Science Department), Dr. Anser Mahmood Chatta (Director General Wildlife & Fisheries South Punjab), Mr. Farhan Khan (Assistant Fisheries Development Commissioner, Ministry of Maritime Affairs), Dr. Mubarak Ahmed (Consultant Agro & Food Division, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan), and Mr. JunaidWatto (CEO, Fisheries Development Board).
The workshop began with a welcome address by Dr. Asif Raza, who highlighted how Punjab is capitalizing on the new regulations for freshwater fisheries and shrimp farming. Dr. Mubarak Ahmed then shared an important milestone for Pakistan’s fisheries sector: “Until last year, there was no proper legislation for the export of freshwater fisheries. With the collective effort of various departments, including Maritime Affairs, Pakistan is now preparing for its first-ever freshwater fisheries exports.” He elaborated on the Central Asian market’s potential, stating, “Central Asia imports $205 million worth of fish annually, a market that Pakistan can immediately tap into. TDAP has already opened road transport routes to these countries, and shrimp, prawns, and other fisheries products from Southern Punjab can be our next big consignments. Our target is to achieve $ 1 Billion in exports, building on the $406 million already achieved by June 2024.”
Dr. Anser Mahmood Chatta underscored Punjab’s vast shrimp farming potential, explaining, “In Pakistan, groundwater reserves over a large area are saline, and 9 million acres of Punjab land is affected by salinity, making it ideal for shrimp culture. Rather than viewing this as a challenge, we can turn these areas into productive shrimp farming zones.” He also highlighted the ongoing shrimp farming project in Muzaffargarh initiated under the direction of CM Punjab, Maryam Nawaz. “This pilot project, the largest of its kind, spans 130 acres of saline land. We’ve invested $8 million in shrimp seed, which is now ready for harvest. This project marks a turning point for Pakistan’s shrimp farming industry.”
Dr. Chatta also revealed future initiatives, stating, “The government is fully on board to support these ventures. We are establishing a Directorate of Shrimp Aquaculture, strengthening the quality control labs in Lahore, and creating a shrimp hatchery capable of producing 100 million post-larvae (PL) annually. International consultants are being hired to transfer advanced technology for shrimp breeding, farming, and quality control.”
Mr. AtharHussain Khokhar, Director General, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), who joined via Zoom, shared insights on the global shrimp market: “World exports of shrimp amount to $40 billion, and Indian shrimp export is around $8 Billion, however, Pakistan currently only exports $70 million worth of shrimp. He also said that with the registration of first Shrimp Company with Department of Fisheries, Government of Punjab, the process of aqua export has just begun, and with the support of all stakeholders Inshallah we will be able to export aqua species in the current year. He also said that world over fisheries export consist of both marine and aqua. However, we are relying on marine export only, which is causing overfishing and stagnant export below $ 500 Million for last one decade. He also said that we are coordinating with National Logistic Cell (NLC) for aquaculture export from Punjab to China, Russia and Central Asian Republics.
The workshop also stressed the importance of practical skills development. “Internships and training programs for young professionals in shrimp farming are already being planned,” said Mr. JunaidWatto. “The Fisheries Development Board is actively working with educational institutions to create career pathways in aquaculture for students and graduates.”
Mr. Farhan Khan from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs emphasized the importance of interdepartmental cooperation. “The collaboration between the Maritime Affairs Ministry, Fisheries Department, and TDAP has been vital in paving the way for these exports. We are working on removing regulatory hurdles and ensuring smooth coordination for export logistics.”
The workshop concluded on an optimistic note about Pakistan’s aquaculture future. The initiatives discussed at the event promise to boost exports, create jobs, and establish Pakistan as a key player in the global seafood market.
