In Islamabad on October 27, 2026, a sub-committee set up by the prime minister gave itself 120 days to produce a roadmap for growing shrimp farming, adding value to the product and raising exports. The deadline is part of a broader 24-month plan that includes implementation and review.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry chaired the meeting of the sub-committee on Aquaculture and Shrimp Value Chain. Provincial fisheries officials and relevant federal bodies took part, with the goal of building a coordinated strategy to make fish farming a more competitive, export-driven business.
Working groups and data plans for the shrimp roadmap
The committee will prepare a detailed report based on verified figures and recommendations from stakeholders. It will set a baseline for the sector, pinpoint bottlenecks along the value chain and propose steps to improve production, processing and export competitiveness.
The sub-committee approved seven technical working groups and a projection and costing cell. Together they are expected to produce 14 reports and export projections, with responsibilities assigned to the relevant institutions. A common framework for data collection and validation was also adopted, along with methods for prioritising challenges and monitoring progress.
An initial 14-day action plan was approved, and participating institutions were told to finish their tasks within the stipulated deadlines.
Provincial officials outline challenges and hatchery efforts
Representatives attended from the fisheries departments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan and the ministries of National Food Security and Research and Maritime Affairs were also present.
Punjab Secretary for Aquaculture and Fisheries Rana Muhammad Saleem Afzal said the province was working to expand shrimp farming, but building an effective value chain remained a major challenge. He added that efforts to establish hatcheries were under way.
Sindh’s secretary for livestock and fisheries said a feasibility study was being prepared for a 3,500-acre shrimp farm in the province. He also stressed the need to address difficulties in value addition and traceability. Other participants presented proposals to improve shrimp processing and export competitiveness.
Chaudhry said the exercise would identify constraints and develop practical solutions to expand shrimp farming and increase exports. The federal government plans to work with provinces and other stakeholders to pool expertise.
The minister said the next meeting would review progress on nominations, baseline data collection, working-group activities and gaps in available evidence, along with an initial assessment of risks.
