Minister admits power costs, shortages are undermining Pakistan’s fisheries exports

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has acknowledged that persistent electricity shortages and high energy prices are constraining Pakistan’s fisheries sector, undermining production and weakening the global competitiveness of seafood exporters.

Speaking at a recent meeting, Chaudhry has called for urgent reforms in the fisheries sector, saying reliable energy supply and lower input costs were critical to boosting exports and generating sustainable revenue, read an official statement on Friday.

The remarks came after Assistant Fisheries Commissioner Farahan Khan briefed participants on structural gaps and operational challenges facing the sector.

The minister said uninterrupted power supply, affordable feed and efficient power generation were essential to unlock growth and help the fisheries sector gain recognition as a full-fledged industry.

“Pakistan has abundant raw material, including fish, shrimp, crabs, lobsters, squid, cuttlefish and bivalves, which could support value-added processing”, he added.

Officials told the meeting that over 100 fish processing plants, ranging from small units to large commercial facilities, were operating across Pakistan, backed by about 400 registered exporters.

“Most facilities were concentrated in Karachi, with limited infrastructure in Balochistan, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab lagged significantly in sectoral development”, they said.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) 2022 report, fish and fish preparations ranked 10th among Pakistan’s top export commodities in the 2024–25 fiscal year, accounting for 1.34% of total exports valued at $32.04 billion.

The sector outperformed exports of fruits and vegetables, pharmaceuticals, sports goods and surgical instruments.

In Pakistan, fisheries contribute about 1% to gross domestic product and 4% to the agriculture sector, providing direct employment to more than one million people and indirect livelihoods to around 1.5 million.