Islamabad / Karachi: The Government of Pakistan has taken an important step to promote the blue economy by initiating a project to establish an aquaculture park in Karachi at a cost of $10.5 million. The project is being facilitated through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which is working to encourage both local and foreign investment.
The aquaculture park will focus on the farming of fish, shrimp, and other aquatic life in marine or freshwater environments. According to officials, the project will not only increase the production of aquatic resources by making effective use of Pakistan’s coastal waters but will also strengthen the blue economy.
The plan aims to increase the annual production from 360 tons to 1,200 tons and raise the revenue from $720,000 to $7.2 million. This project is being established under a public-private partnership, with the government providing affordable land to facilitate private investment.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, has instructed the relevant departments to prepare a complete operational report on the aquaculture park within the next 10 days. He also suggested expanding this model to the coastal areas of Balochistan to develop the country’s extensive coastal resources.
Officials say that SIFC is playing a central role in the strategic oversight and facilitation of blue economy projects, resulting in marine development, environmental protection, and the creation of sustainable employment opportunities.
