In bid to boost exports, govt sets 120-day deadline for roadmap to expand shrimp farming

ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee constituted by the prime minister has set a 120-day deadline to prepare a roadmap to expand shrimp farming, improve value addition and boost exports. Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the sub-committee on aquaculture and the shrimp value chain, according to a press release . The 120-day deadline was set as part of a broader 24-month implementation and review process. The meeting brought together provincial fisheries officials and relevant federal institutions to develop a “coordinated strategy” for transforming aquaculture into a competitive, export-oriented industry. PM Shehbaz has termed achieving export-led economic growth as the government’s top priority , with the federal budget for the current fiscal year (FY27) formulated with the same objective .

The sub-committee will prepare a comprehensive report based on verified data and stakeholder recommendations, Tuesday’s statement said. “The exercise will establish a baseline for the sector, identify bottlenecks across the value chain and propose measures to improve production, processing and export competitiveness,” it added. Furthermore, the sub-committee approved seven technical working groups and a projection and costing cell to prepare 14 reports and export projections, assigning responsibilities to the relevant institutions. It also adopted a common framework for data collection and validation, prioritising challenges, developing reform proposals and monitoring progress. An initial 14-day action plan was approved, with participating institutions directed to complete their assigned tasks within the stipulated deadlines. The meeting was attended by representatives of the fisheries departments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan,…