Govt urged to develop fisheries sector on modern lines

KARACHI: The President of the Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), Mian Zahid Hussain, has said that Pakistan must shift from viewing fisheries and aquaculture merely as traditional fishing and instead develop it as a modern, export-oriented, and value-added blue economy. To achieve this, effective coordination between federal and provincial institutions, complete traceability of boats and catches, world-class certification and food safety regimes, modern harbours, sustainable fisheries management, and accessible financing for the private sector must be ensured on a priority basis. He said that shifting the focus from exporting raw fish to processed, frozen, packaged, and value-added seafood products will not only expand Pakistan’s current market access but also open doors to new global markets. Mian Zahid Hussain, who is also the president of the All Karachi Industrial Alliance and chairman of the National Business Group Pakistan as well as that of the FPCCI Policy Advisory Board, said the chamber is ready to provide pragmatic proposals to the government based on policy research and private sector experience to promote investment and exports. He said that eliminating outdated practices, establishing a modern cold chain infrastructure, promoting shrimp farming, and complying with global standards can change the destiny of the national economy through enhanced seafood exports. He said that despite the abundance of natural resources in Pakistan’s fisheries and aquaculture sector, its contribution to national exports remains dismal. He said that through a concrete strategy, the implementation of modern technology, and value addition, the sector’s exports can easily be boosted to $2 billion. Mian Zahid Hussain noted that seafood exports stood at $568 million during the last fiscal year, registering a 38 percent increase over two years. China remained Pakistan’s largest seafood market, absorbing approximately 59 percent of the total exports. However, he lamented that despite possessing a 1, 000-kilometre-long coastline and a 240, 000-square-kilometre Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Pakistan’s share in the $195 billion global seafood export market is a mere 0. 29 percent. This glaring contrast exposes the massive untapped potential for Pakistan to increase production and capitalize on its economic capacity. In the export market, Norway and China dominate with an approximate 10 percent share each, while Ecuador, Vietnam, Chile, and India also hold significant shares. Pakistan’s 0. 02 percent Cumulative Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2016 to 2025 further highlights its highly restricted footprint in the global aquatic food market relative to its actual potential. Mian Zahid Hussain highlighted that the primary hurdles restricting Pakistan’s access to the global seafood market include a weak traceability and certification system, a lack of boat registration and digital records, poor enforcement of food safety and quality standards, and complex licensing procedures. Furthermore, declining fish stocks, overfishing, illegal fishing, and the absence of effective quota and stock management systems are severely compromising the sector’s export potential. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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