Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has called for developing a comprehensive and sustainable value chain to transform aquaculture and shrimp farming into an export-oriented industry, aimed at boosting foreign exchange earnings.
Chairing the first meeting of the Prime Minister’s Subcommittee on Aquaculture and Shrimp Value Chain, he said coordinated efforts were needed to increase production, improve quality and strengthen Pakistan’s competitiveness in international markets. The minister said the subcommittee would work towards establishing an integrated system covering shrimp production, processing, quality testing and access to international markets.
Pakistan’s seafood exports reached a record $568 million in the financial year 2025-26, including $62 million from shrimp, Junaid Chaudhry said. Seafood exports also rose to $125.4 million in the first quarter of the current financial year, he added. He noted that a substantial share of Pakistan’s seafood exports still came from wild-caught marine resources, underscoring the need to develop shrimp farming as an organised and sustainable source of production.—APP
