A one-day seminar titled “Shrimp Aquaculture Value Chain Development Punjab” was held in Multan under the auspices of the Punjab Fisheries Department, aiming to equip shrimp farmers with technical knowledge and to highlight the provincial government’s ongoing initiatives in the sector.
A large number of farmers, fisheries experts, and officials attended the seminar, which featured speakers from both local and international organisations. The event began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by detailed presentations on the shrimp value chain, hatchery development, and the economic potential of aquaculture in saline regions of Punjab.
Director General Fisheries Punjab, Mr Rana Muhammad Saleem Afzal, who was the chief guest, said the government intended to recognise shrimp farming as a formal industry and support its development across suitable regions of the province. “We are committed to developing a complete value chain for shrimp farming in Punjab, turning it into a profitable and sustainable industry,” he said.
Dr Noor Elahi, a consultant from Rawa Farm Pvt Ltd, informed participants that the shrimp’s short life cycle of 120 days made it a commercially viable option for earning profit and foreign exchange. He added that shrimp farming was particularly suitable in areas where groundwater is saline and unsuitable for conventional crops.
Mr Edward K. C. Wong, an aquaculture expert from China, stressed the critical role of hatcheries in the success of the shrimp farming value chain.
Dr Ansar Mehmood Chatha, Director General Fisheries and Wildlife South Punjab, said that the government was working on a comprehensive plan to promote shrimp farming. “A dedicated directorate for shrimp farming is being established. The government will offer both technical guidance and financial support for the creation of hatcheries, feed mills, and processing plants,” he said.
He also highlighted the successful inauguration of Punjab’s first shrimp farming project by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in Muzaffargarh. The project has already allocated 25,000 acres of land for shrimp aquaculture.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue (ADCR) Owaid Irshad Bhatti said that a ‘Shrimp Aqua Mall’ would also be developed in Muzaffargarh, and that shrimp exports from the region would play an important role in boosting the provincial economy. “This project has been welcomed by local farmers, many of whom thanked the chief minister for providing them with a new source of livelihood,” he said.
He added that thousands of acres of government land previously under illegal occupation had been retrieved by Deputy Commissioner Engineer Quratul Ain Memon and his revenue team. “We are now preparing to expand shrimp farming to other districts, and good news is on the way for the people of Muzaffargarh and Kot Addu,” he said.
ADCR Bhatti also announced the completion of a major revenue record digitisation effort in the region. “Old records were missing from several mouzajaat, which created problems for landowners and farmers. We have now converted them into a digital system to ensure transparency and prevent any further loss,” he said.
Officials said this transformation of land record systems would also remove fears among farmers and investors about land ownership and help facilitate long-term investment in the aquaculture sector.