Panel formed to develop aquaculture promotion plan
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has said that the ministry has formed a sub-committee on the directives of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif to develop a viable plan for the promotion of aquaculture and expand shrimp production in the country.
Addressing a symposium titled “Pakistan’s Maritime Future: Maritime Security, Ocean Governance and Blue Economy”, organised by the National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) at Bahria University here on Wednesday, the minister said that secure sea routes were vital to economic stability amid rising regional tensions.
The sub-committee has set a 120-day deadline to prepare a roadmap for expanding shrimp farming, improving value addition and boosting exports as part of a broader 24-month implementation and review process.
The committee will prepare a comprehensive report based on verified data and stakeholder recommendations. The exercise will establish a baseline for the sector, identify bottlenecks across the value chain and propose measures to improve production, processing and export competitiveness.
The sub-committee approved seven technical working groups and a projection and costing cell to prepare 14 reports and export projections, assigning responsibilities to the relevant institutions. It also adopted a common framework for data collection and validation, prioritising challenges, developing reform proposals and monitoring progress.
An initial 14-day action plan was approved, with participating institutions directed to complete their assigned tasks within the stipulated deadlines.
Junaid Chaudhry said the exercise would identify constraints and develop practical solutions to expand shrimp farming, strengthen value addition and increase exports. The federal government would work with provincial governments and other stakeholders to pool expertise and develop a coordinated approach to harness the country’s potential in shrimp farming.
He said the government was also working to expand the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation’s fleet, promote shrimp farming and strengthen the fisheries value chain.
Junaid Chaudhry said the Ministry of Maritime Affairs was working to improve port efficiency, expand the national merchant fleet, facilitate trade and attract investment.
The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) had handled more than 2,000 ship movements, while the ministry had introduced reforms in port charges and auction procedures and taken measures to facilitate refrigerated cargo and expedite clearance, he said.
He said Pakistan’s removal from the Joint War Committee’s list could help reduce additional insurance costs for maritime trade. The move was expected to benefit commercial activity worth around $3 billion, he added.
The minister also highlighted proposed investments, including a steel project worth about USD680 million at Port Qasim, an integrated maritime industrial complex valued at more than USD1.4 billion and a multipurpose terminal project estimated at around USD350 million.
Earlier, former AJK President and diplomat Sardar Masood Khan delivered the keynote address on great-power contestation and the evolving dynamics of the maritime domain.
Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, acting vice chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University, discussed changing strategic dynamics in the Indian Ocean region and their implications for the maritime order.
Dr Mustafa Ba’kara, chief executive officer of DEHUKAM Türkiye, addressed the symposium online, focusing on evolving ocean governance frameworks and their implications for maritime interests.
Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed (retd), chairman of the Karachi Port Trust, examined whether Pakistan’s ports could sustain their current momentum beyond periods of crisis.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026