Islamabad: A sub-committee formed by the prime minister has established a 120-day deadline to create a roadmap for expanding shrimp farming, enhancing value addition, and boosting exports, as part of a broader 24-month implementation and review process.
According to Press Information Department, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry chaired the sub-committee meeting on Aquaculture and Shrimp Value Chain. The meeting gathered provincial fisheries officials and federal institutions to devise a coordinated strategy for transforming aquaculture into a competitive, export-oriented industry. The committee aims to prepare a comprehensive report based on verified data and stakeholder recommendations, setting a baseline for the sector, identifying bottlenecks, and proposing measures for improving production, processing, and export competitiveness.
The sub-committee approved the establishment of seven technical working groups and a projection and costing cell to prepare 14 reports and export projections, assigning responsibilities to relevant institutions. A common framework for data collection and validation was adopted, focusing on prioritizing challenges, developing reform proposals, and monitoring progress. An initial 14-day action plan was also approved, with directives for participating institutions to complete their tasks within the set deadlines.
The meeting saw participation from representatives of the fisheries departments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, along with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and the ministries of National Food Security and Research and Maritime Affairs.
Junaid Chaudhry highlighted the exercise’s goal to identify constraints and develop practical solutions to expand shrimp farming, strengthen value addition, and enhance exports. He emphasized the federal government’s commitment to working with provincial governments and other stakeholders to harness the country’s potential in shrimp farming.
Punjab Secretary for Aquaculture and Fisheries Rana Muhammad Saleem Afzal noted the provincial government’s efforts to expand shrimp farming, while acknowledging the challenges in establishing an effective value chain. Sindh’s secretary for livestock and fisheries mentioned a feasibility study for a 3,500-acre shrimp farm in the province and the need to address challenges in value addition and traceability.
The minister announced that the next meeting would assess progress on nominations, baseline data collection, identified bottlenecks, working-group activities, gaps in available evidence, and an initial assessment of risks and proposed interventions.