Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced historic steps to promote aquaculture, especially shrimp farming, in the province. Shrimp farms will be developed on a total of 5,600 acres in Sargodha and Alipur, converting barren and saline lands into productive areas. This initiative marks a major milestone for agricultural and economic growth in Punjab.
According to official updates, the Sargodha shrimp project has completed its 15th daily development report. Nine ponds on 20 acres are ready for shrimp farming, and 5,320 meters of drainage work have been finished. Surveys for the next phase covering 10 more acres have also been completed.
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Quality control laboratories are being established to support shrimp farming. In Lahore, a lab worth PKR 4.5 billion is 99% complete, while Muzaffargarh’s research lab is 98% finished. Pakistani experts have completed training visits to Saudi Arabia and Mexico, and international specialists Jeffrey and Jamie Domensek have also visited Pakistan for technical guidance.
Infrastructure for shrimp farming is advancing rapidly. Thirty-two tube wells and eight transformers have been installed, while 64 ponds have been seeded with shrimp. In Sargodha’s Chak No. 58, 124 acres are being developed with 57 ponds, and in Muzaffargarh, 2,507 acres have been leveled with 57 ponds and 50 tube wells ready for use.
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Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the project will boost Punjab’s exports and create thousands of new jobs for youth. She described it as the largest and most significant step toward building Punjab’s blue economy. Officials say the initiative is expected to transform aquaculture into a key driver of economic development in the province.