Govt urged to develop fisheries sector on modern lines

Mian Zahid Hussain, the President of the Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, has called for a modernized approach to Pakistan's fisheries and aquaculture sector. He advocates for this sector to be developed as an export-focused, value-added "blue economy." To accomplish this, he emphasizes the need for better coordination between federal and provincial bodies, traceable boats and catch records, rigorous certification and food safety, modern harbors, sustainable management, and financing tailored for the private sector.

Hussain insists that Pakistan should shift its focus from exporting raw fish to processed, frozen, packaged, and value-added seafood products. This shift would not only boost Pakistan's existing market access but also enable entry into new global markets. As president of several major organizations, he claims that his chamber is prepared to present actionable plans to the government, based on research and industry experience, to promote investment and exports.

Despite Pakistan's abundant natural resources, the fisheries and aquaculture sector's contribution to national exports remains poor. Hussain believes that with a clear strategy, modern technology integration, and value addition, the sector's exports could rise to $2 billion. In the fiscal year prior to this report, seafood exports totaled $568 million, marking a 38% increase over a two-year period.

China is Pakistan's largest seafood market, accounting for about 59% of total exports. However, Hussain criticizes that while Pakistan boasts a 1,000-kilometre coastline and a 240,000-square-kilometre Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), its share in the $195 billion global seafood export market is only 0.29%. This discrepancy highlights Pakistan's vast untapped potential for production and economic growth.

Norway and China lead the global seafood export market, each holding about 10% of the total, while Ecuador, Vietnam, Chile, and India also have considerable shares. Pakistan's cumulative annual growth rate (CAGR) in exports from 2016 to 2025 stands at a measly 0.02%, underscoring its limited presence in the global aquatic food market despite its potential.

The main obstacles hindering Pakistan's access to the global seafood market include an inadequate traceability and certification system, absence of boat registration and digital records, ineffective enforcement of food safety and quality standards, and complex licensing procedures. Additionally, dwindling fish stocks, overfishing, illegal fishing, and the lack of proper quota and stock management systems are severely limiting the sector's export potential.