Govt pushes MoUs and tech-driven aquaculture to tap into global markets
Pakistan is setting its sights on boosting seafood exports to $600 million in the upcoming fiscal year, as part of an aggressive push to expand its presence in global fisheries markets. During a recent visit to Beijing, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry met with Pakistani seafood exporters and emphasized the importance of signing MoUs and building strong business-to-business partnerships with Chinese firms. Exporters like Tariq Memon of Arabian Sea Products are working on advanced aquaculture systems to preserve live mud crabs and lobsters for longer durations, enabling access to distant markets. This innovation, in collaboration with Chinese technology and investment, is expected to increase survival rates and improve logistics. Pakistan, currently the world’s third-largest exporter of live mud crabs, shipped over 3,000 tons to China last year, contributing $465 million to total seafood exports. Other exporters, including Saeed Ahmed Fareed of Legend International, are exploring joint ventures for frozen seafood and poultry products, leveraging large-scale processing facilities approved by Chinese authorities. Meanwhile, companies like Perfect Food Industries are eyeing the untapped potential in freeze-dried food exports, highlighting the global demand for Pakistani fruits and vegetables like mangoes and guava — a sector still lacking domestic processing infrastructure.
