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Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Experts for tapping potential of marine, inland fisheries
ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a seminar have emphasised the urgent need to recognise and harness the untapped potential of marine and inland fisheries along with aquaculture to promote food security, reduce poverty, and drive sustainable economic growth in Pakistan. Addressing the seminar here on Wednesday organised by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), they said that with better management and value addition, the sector could generate up to $10 billion in value annually. The seminar was conducted to get input from relevant provincial and federal departments on shaping the first National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy 2025–2035. The participants noted that in past 77 years, Pakistan even failed to devise a viable National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and the current government has taken the initiative to develop it. Addressing the event, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry noted that despite Pakistan's rich marine and inland water resources, the fisheries and aquaculture sector has long remained underdeveloped and underutilised. He pointed out that the sector currently contributes less than 0.5 percent to the national GDP and captures limited value from both domestic and export markets. He stressed that one of the key priorities of the new policy is fostering federal-provincial harmonisation. He emphasised that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs will continue to lead on critical national issues, including fulfilling international obligations and enhancing seafood exports. The policy also focuses on cross-cutting priorities such as climate resilience, environmental protection, child safety, gender inclusion, labour rights, and the adoption of modern technologies, he added. He described the policy as a foundational and evolving framework whose success depends on sustained commitment, effective coordination, and active engagement from all stakeholders across the country. He said this policy represents a major milestone for not just the ministry but for all institutions, communities, and stakeholders committed to the future of Pakistan's blue economy. Secretary of Maritime Affairs Syed Zaffar Ali Shah stated that despite Pakistan's long coastline, the fisheries sector has not yet achieved its potential. It remains a vital source of livelihood but faces serious issues like over-fishing and poor regulation. He noted that the newly introduced national policy aims to resolve these challenges through coordinated planning. Florence Rolle, FAO representative, stressed the need for strong coordination between provincial and federal governments and across sectors. She highlighted that inclusive seminars were conducted nationwide, helping shape the policy. Rolle praised Balochistan's proactive development of its fisheries policy and noted that sustainable practices could attract international climate funding. Dr Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi, Animal Husbandry Commissioner from the Ministry of National Food Security emphasised that the final policy must be both ambitious and feasible. He underlined the importance of stakeholder involvement, especially since fisheries are often neglected and highly climate-sensitive. The policy, he added, must reflect the diverse ecological and cultural characteristics of each province. FAO's Senior Policy Specialist Dr Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal explained the policy's main features including fiscal incentives, ecosystem conservation, women's empowerment, safe working environments, entrepreneurship, job creation for them, and pollution control. Dr Iqbal described the inclusive, step-by-step development process of the national policy, beginning with provincial consultations. He stressed that responsible resource management and effective governance are at the heart of the strategy, ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience in the fisheries sector. The workshop featured several panel discussions, including sessions on governance and incentives for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, strategies for development and management of aquaculture in Pakistan, and the implementation framework and cross-cutting themes of the national policy. Younas Anwar from Mahigir Itehad Gwadar, Nasir Rahim Sohrabi of RCDC Gwadar, and Syed Daim Shah, president of the Aquaculture Farmers Association, also spoke at the event, which was attended by representatives from the fisheries industry of Balochistan and Sindh, along with members of academia and policymakers. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
10-year fisheries policy to boost blue economy
Listen to article Experts have emphasised the urgent need to recognise and harness the untapped potential of marine and inland fisheries and aquaculture to promote food security, reduce poverty and drive sustainable economic growth. They were speaking at a workshop on Wednesday, organised by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and focused on shaping the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy 2025-2035. Addressing the event, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry noted that despite Pakistan's rich marine and inland water resources, the fisheries and aquaculture sector has long remained underdeveloped and underutilised. He pointed out that the sector currently contributes less than 0.5% to the national gross domestic product (GDP) and captures limited value from both domestic and export markets. The minister stressed that one of the key priorities of the new policy is to foster federal-provincial harmonisation, adding that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs will continue to lead on critical national issues, including fulfilling international obligations and enhancing seafood exports. The policy also focuses on cross-cutting priorities such as climate resilience, environmental protection, child safety, gender inclusion, labour rights and the adoption of modern technologies. The minister described the policy as a foundational and evolving framework whose success depends on sustained commitment, effective coordination and active engagement from all stakeholders. He said the policy represents a major milestone for not just the ministry but for all institutions, communities and stakeholders committed to the future of Pakistan's blue economy. Maritime Affairs Secretary Syed Zaffar Ali Shah stated that despite Pakistan's long coastline, the fisheries sector has not yet achieved its potential. "It remains a vital source of livelihood but faces serious issues like overfishing and poor regulation." He noted that the newly introduced national policy aims to resolve these challenges through coordinated planning. With better management and value addition, the sector can generate up to $10 billion. FAO Representative Florence Rolle stressed the need for strong coordination between provincial and federal governments and across sectors. She highlighted that inclusive seminars were conducted nationwide to help shape the policy. Ministry of National Food Security's Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi emphasised that the final policy must be both ambitious and feasible. He underlined the importance of stakeholder involvement, especially since fisheries are often neglected and highly climate-sensitive. The policy, he added, must reflect the diverse ecological and cultural characteristics of each province. FAO's Senior Policy Specialist Dr Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal explained the policy's main features including fiscal incentives, ecosystem conservation, women empowerment, entrepreneurship and pollution control.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan unveils 10-year national fisheries, aquaculture policy to boost blue economy
Pakistan on Wednesday launched a comprehensive 10-year National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy (2025–2035) aimed at revitalizing its underdeveloped fisheries sector and unlocking the potential of its blue economy. The announcement was made during a national workshop organized by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Speaking at the event, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, said that despite the country's vast marine and inland water resources, the fisheries and aquaculture sector remains underutilized, contributing less than 0.5 percent to national GDP. He said the new policy seeks to increase the sector's contribution to food security, poverty alleviation, and sustainable economic growth, while improving coordination between federal and provincial governments. 'The Ministry of Maritime Affairs will continue to lead on national commitments, including enhancing seafood exports and fulfilling international obligations,' the minister said. Sindh, Balochistan: Stakeholders consulted on national fisheries & aquaculture policy The policy outlines multiple cross-cutting priorities, including environmental protection, climate resilience, gender inclusion, child safety, labor rights, and the promotion of modern technologies. It also aims to ensure sustainable practices and strengthen institutional capacity. Secretary of Maritime Affairs Syed Zaffar Ali Shah said the new policy would address challenges such as overfishing and inadequate regulation. With improved management and value addition, the sector could potentially generate up to 10 billion U.S. dollars in economic value, he noted. Florence Rolle, FAO Representative in Pakistan, highlighted the inclusive and consultative process behind the policy's development. She underscored the importance of coordination between provincial and federal entities, citing Balochistan's proactive fisheries initiatives as an example of best practice. 'The policy reflects voices from all provinces and aligns with international environmental and sustainability standards,' she said, adding that climate-conscious reforms in the sector could attract global investment. Pakistan formally accepts WTO's agreement on fisheries subsidies Dr. Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi, Animal Husbandry Commissioner from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, said the policy must remain grounded in both ambition and feasibility, addressing the sector's sensitivity to climate change and its diverse ecological zones. FAO's Senior Policy Specialist Dr. Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal detailed the policy's incentives for investment, environmental conservation, women's empowerment, pollution control, and safe working environments. Panel discussions during the workshop addressed governance, aquaculture development, implementation frameworks, and cross-cutting social and environmental themes. The event was attended by stakeholders from across Pakistan, including representatives from Balochistan and Sindh's fishing communities, members of academia, and policymakers. Enditem
