Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry admitted that high energy costs and persistent power shortages are hurting Pakistan’s fisheries sector. He said these challenges are reducing production and weakening the global competitiveness of seafood exporters. Chaudhry called for urgent reforms to ensure reliable energy and lower input costs.
The minister’s remarks came during a briefing by Assistant Fisheries Commissioner Farahan Khan, who highlighted structural gaps and operational issues in the sector. Chaudhry emphasized that uninterrupted power, affordable feed, and efficient energy generation are essential for growth and recognition of fisheries as a full-fledged industry. He noted that Pakistan has abundant raw material, including fish, shrimp, crabs, lobsters, squid, and bivalves, which could support value-added processing.
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Officials reported that over 100 fish processing plants operate across Pakistan, supported by about 400 registered exporters. Most facilities are concentrated in Karachi, while Balochistan, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lag behind in infrastructure and sectoral development. The meeting underlined the need for targeted investment in energy, logistics, and cold-chain infrastructure to unlock export potential.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s SOFIA 2022 report, fish and fish preparations ranked 10th among Pakistan’s top export commodities in 2024–25, accounting for 1.34% of total exports valued at $32.04 billion. The sector outperformed exports of fruits, vegetables, pharmaceuticals, sports goods, and surgical instruments.
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Fisheries contribute about 1% to Pakistan’s GDP and 4% to the agriculture sector, providing direct employment to more than one million people and supporting around 1.5 million livelihoods indirectly. Chaudhry concluded that without urgent reforms and reliable energy, Pakistan risks losing its competitive edge in global seafood markets.