By Abbas Nazil
Pakistan is taking a significant step toward unlocking the potential of its marine and inland fisheries with the launch of a comprehensive 10-year National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy 2025–2035, aimed at transforming the sector to a driver of sustainable economic growth, food security, and poverty reduction.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), held a national workshop in Islamabad to finalize the policy, which is expected to play a central role in advancing Pakistan’s blue economy.
Speaking at the event, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, acknowledged the country’s abundant marine and inland water resources but lamented the sector’s underdevelopment.
He noted that despite its vast potential, fisheries and aquaculture currently contribute less than 0.5 percent to Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP), while capturing limited value in both domestic and export markets.
He stressed that the new policy prioritizes harmonisation between federal and provincial authorities and sets the stage for improving seafood exports, meeting international obligations, and building climate-resilient and inclusive fisheries systems.
The policy is structured to serve as a flexible and evolving framework that addresses cross-cutting issues, including child safety, gender inclusion, labour rights, adoption of modern technologies, and environmental protection.
The minister emphasized that the long-term success of the policy depends on sustained commitment, active stakeholder engagement, and strong coordination across government tiers.
Maritime Affairs Secretary Syed Zaffar Ali Shah echoed similar sentiments, pointing out that despite Pakistan’s long coastline, the sector continues to face major issues like overfishing, regulatory weaknesses, and limited investment.
He said the policy aims to reverse these trends through improved governance, better resource management, and added value across the fisheries value chain.
With these reforms, the sector could generate up to $10 billion in economic benefits.
FAO Representative Florence Rolle called for integrated cooperation between federal and provincial governments and urged for stronger multi-sectoral coordination.
She highlighted FAO’s involvement in facilitating stakeholder-inclusive consultations across Pakistan, which shaped the policy’s development.
Similarly, Dr Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi of the Ministry of National Food Security emphasized the need for ambition grounded in practicality.
He noted that fisheries, often neglected and highly climate-sensitive, must be managed according to the unique ecological and cultural contexts of each province.
FAO Senior Policy Specialist Dr Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal elaborated on the policy’s key features, which include fiscal incentives, ecosystem conservation, entrepreneurship promotion, pollution control, and initiatives to empower women in the fisheries value chain.
The policy’s launch marks a pivotal milestone for Pakistan’s sustainable economic transformation through the blue economy.