Pakistan Unveils 10-Year National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy to Boost Blue Economy

Strategic Insights -

Pakistan's Ministry of Maritime Affairs, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has launched a 10-year national fisheries and aquaculture policy to revitalize the country's underutilized blue economy. The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy 2025-2035 aims to enhance food security, alleviate poverty, and stimulate sustainable economic expansion. Federal Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry highlighted the sector's potential, which currently contributes a mere 0.5% to the national GDP, and emphasized the need for federal-provincial collaboration and international coordination.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new policy aims to increase the value of the fisheries sector to $10 billion and contribute 5% to the national GDP by 2035.
  • The policy focuses on federal-provincial collaboration, international obligations, seafood exports, climate resilience, environmental safeguards, social inclusivity, labor rights, and technological advancements.
  • The sector has unrealized potential, with Pakistan's extensive coastline hosting 70% of the country's fisheries activities.
  • The policy addresses challenges like overfishing and inadequate oversight through financial incentives, ecosystem preservation, women's empowerment, worker safety, and entrepreneurship programs.
  • FAO Representative Florence Rolle commended Balochistan's progressive fisheries policy, highlighting the potential to attract international climate funding.
  • The policy includes a phased development process, emphasizing responsible resource management and effective governance.
  • The workshop involved panel discussions on governance, incentives, aquaculture development strategies, policy implementation, and cross-cutting themes.

Statistics:

  • Pakistan's fisheries sector currently contributes only 0.5% to the national GDP.
  • The sector has unrealized potential, with Pakistan's extensive coastline hosting 70% of the country's fisheries activities.
  • The policy aims to increase the value of the fisheries sector to $10 billion and contribute 5% to the national GDP by 2035.
  • 70% of Pakistan's fisheries activities take place in coastal areas.

Sources:

  • Ministry of Maritime Affairs
  • Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  • Federal Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry
  • Secretary of Maritime Affairs Syed Zaffar Ali Shah
  • FAO Representative Florence Rolle
  • Dr. Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi, Ministry of National Food Security
  • FAO's Dr. Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal