LAHORE: On the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the province has initiated its largest-ever seafood and shrimp farming project to enhance the blue economy and bolster exports. The initiative marks the beginning of significant shrimp infrastructure development in Punjab, following successful trials of advanced machinery for shrimp farming.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired a special meeting where she approved a plan for shrimp farming over 30,000 acres in Punjab, including Bahawalpur. She instructed authorities to accelerate the launch of technology-based shrimp farming in Sargodha and ordered the phased involvement of the private sector in the project.

The meeting highlighted ongoing trial production in Muzaffargarh and Sargodha, with 1,000 shrimp farms ready across 5,500 acres in Punjab, and shrimp stocking and production already underway. A survey assisted by foreign experts identified 40,000 potential sites for farming.

Plans are underway to establish a hatchery with an annual capacity of 280 million shrimp over 5,300 acres at Ali Wala, alongside processing plants with capacities of 10 and five tonnes per hour. Pakistan’s first aquaculture mall is set to open at Shah Garh, providing necessary inputs and rental machinery to farmers.

A shrimp diagnostic laboratory will be established at Ali Wala, featuring various scientific sections and a training hall. Sargodha will see shrimp farming over 500 acres, with an aquaculture mall and processing plant planned. Hybrid solar energy systems will support energy needs.

Advanced machinery has been deployed successfully in Shah Garh, producing 100 percent results. The establishment of the Punjab Aquaculture Authority aims to ensure food security, with university graduates and local farmers participating in the project.

Chief Minister Sharif expressed optimism that transforming barren land into a shrimp export hub would save foreign exchange and create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, positioning Punjab to lead in shrimp exports.