Federal authorities established a 120-day timeframe on Tuesday to create a strategic plan for growing shrimp cultivation, upgrading seafood processing, and boosting foreign sales in an effort to transform aquaculture into a competitive export sector.
Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry led the prime ministerial subcommittee on aquaculture and the shrimp value chain that revealed the timeline.
This project forms part of a 24-month execution and monitoring schedule engaging both federal and provincial agencies.
Govt Plans Coordinated Shrimp Farming Strategy
An official statement noted that the subcommittee will draft a complete report using verified figures and suggestions from industry participants. The document will set a sector baseline, spot roadblocks across the supply chain, and suggest steps to boost output, processing power, and export strength.
Seven technical working groups and a projection and costing cell received approval to draft 14 reports and export forecasts. The panel also endorsed a shared system for gathering and checking data, ranking obstacles, forming reforms, and tracking progress.
Officials greenlit an initial 14-day action plan, ordering participating agencies to finish designated duties within the set time limits.
Provinces Identify Shrimp Farming Opportunities
Fisheries department delegates from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan attended the gathering, alongside staff from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and the federal ministries of food security and maritime affairs.
Chaudhry stated that the undertaking would pinpoint hurdles and build workable fixes to grow shrimp cultivation, better value addition, and raise exports. He mentioned that the central government will partner with provincial governments and other groups to combine knowledge and build a unified plan.
Sindh Plans 3,500 Acre Shrimp Farm
Sindh livestock and fisheries secretary reported that a feasibility study is happening for a 3,500 acre shrimp farm inside the province. He also stressed fixing problems tied to value addition and traceability.
Punjab is likewise looking into ways to start shrimp farming. Provincial Aquaculture and Fisheries Secretary Rana Saleem Afzal stated that offices are working to build the sector, specifically in regions where high groundwater salinity makes traditional farming hard.
He mentioned that work is happening to set up hatcheries in such zones, while admitting that building a strong value chain is still a big hurdle.
Pakistan Eyes Higher Seafood Export Earnings
Attendees suggested steps to upgrade shrimp processing and value addition for foreign buyers and local eaters, where shrimp and prawns stay in strong demand in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The upcoming gathering will check found roadblocks and open baseline data needed to push shrimp farming.
During April, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz stated that work had advanced on infrastructure for shrimp farming sites in Sargodha Estate, Aliwala, and Shahgarh. Punjab also started the Blue Economy Programme to use idle land and bring in modern scientific shrimp farming methods.
The project follows federal figures showing Pakistan fish and fish preparations exports hit a record $568 million in fiscal year 2026. Seafood shipments mainly go to China, Thailand, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Indonesia, and the United States.
