Export-led development of fisheries, aquaculture: govt initiative highlighted

PESHAWAR: The federal government in collaboration with the provincial governments has initiated various initiatives for utilization of the immense potential of the fisheries and Aquaculture sub sector for economic growth, employment generation, nutritional security and boosting of exports.

Talking to this scribe, Omar Hayat Khan, an expert on fisheries, aquaculture and environment, said that the initiative is supporting export led development of Fisheries and Aquaculture has started paying dividends in increasing the quality of fish and its export revenue. The blue revolution policy would be applied to area of Trout Aquaculture in Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir as well as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Omar Hayat Khan who has an experience of over three decade while working for KP government on various positions, went on to say that the Federal Government in collaboration with the Provincial Fisheries Department should aim at bring real blue revolution in cold water fisheries through sustainable and responsible development of development of cold water fisheries i.e. Trout Fish through providing support trout fish aquaculture entrepreneurs through pilot project in selected districts in branding and marketing supporting micro and small enterprises in the region.

Despite immense potential and government support several road blocks impede entrepreneurship development in the Trout Fish Aquaculture sub sector across the region. These challenges include availability of quality fish seed at Government Hatcheries, Quality fish feed, inadequate equipment, market linkages, quality and regulatory compliance issues, skill gaps, sustainable resource management concerns. Management concerns.

Addressing these multifaceted challenges require a collaborative multi stakeholder approach involving provincial governments, private sector, research institutes and local communities. Proposed solutions include infrastructure up-gradation at public sector’s hatcheries and private sector enterprises, strengthening of certification laboratories at Provincial levels where they are nonexistent. Streamlining or regulatory processes in the whole supply chain with robust marketing strategies for export.

The natural environment suitable for trout fish culture through commercial aquaculture is available in the region. The enterprises are economically viable and profitable for the investor and it has become social expectable in the region.

The concerned Ministry of Food Security with the support of FAO has prepared the National Fisheries Policy, 2025 and is the process of approval by Government for bringing blue revolution in Fisheries and Aquaculture. The Government Support is translating into increase in fish and fisheries products exports during the current year. The trajectory of growth will further improve as the momentum grows in the sub sector. Tremendous opportunities are available to export trout fish to number of countries in EU including China as the demand of this fish is unlimited.

The focus of the Federal Government is on Marine and Brackish Fisheries and Aquaculture. The untapped resource of cold -water fisheries can provide job opportunities to rural population as well foreign exchange through exports. This can be done without much effort as infrastructure of production is readily available in private sector. The Federal Government Organization of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority in collaboration of Fisheries Department of Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can identify the impediments and bottlenecks for export of the fish and fisheries products for the benefit of the country.

The blue revolution in cold water fisheries will open source of income for the local entrepreneurs, create new jobs for the local rural population and utilize the industrial by products to high value protein products. This will also address the millennium goals to which Pakistan is a signatory. To further add in this regard is that the development of supply chain of Trout Fish Aquaculture in the region will be highly productive and will support food security of the local rural population and boost local economy by multiplier effect of income generation.

As the sub sector grows it will create further opportunities for local development of value-added products for tourist and strengthen the local economy base. The availability of Trout Fish at the grass root level will also support processing industry for value added products of fish for local consumption and export. This is a tremendous opportunity as our natural resource is not been taped for income generation as well production of high value product of trout amounting to billion dollars.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025