Islamabad: — Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar 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.
Speaking at a meeting Junaid Chaudhry said persistent electricity shortages and high energy prices were constraining production and eroding the global competitiveness of Pakistani seafood exporters.
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 more than 100 fish processing plants, ranging from small units to large commercial facilities, were operating across the country, 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 added.
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.
Globally, fish and fish products are among the most traded food commodities, reaching around 230 countries with a total value of $195 billion in 2022. Average per capita consumption stood at 20.7 kilograms and is projected to rise further.
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.
During the 2024–25 fiscal year, approximately 300,000 tonnes of fish and fish products were processed, with 30% exported for human consumption, 40% converted into fish meal for poultry, dairy and aquaculture, and the remainder used domestically.
The meeting was told that Pakistani seafood is exported to more than 40 markets, including China, Gulf states, Southeast Asia, East Asia, the United States and the European Union. By volume, it ranks second among agricultural exports and generates about $500 million annually, although earnings fluctuate due to regional competition and pricing pressures.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
