Punjab Launches Largest-Ever Shrimp Farming Project to Power Blue Economy

LAHORE: Under the directives issued by Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Punjab has undertaken its most ambitious project yet regarding shrimp aquaculture in Punjab. It is aimed at promoting the blue economy and seafood export capabilities of Pakistan. This comes after successful trials were conducted using AI-operated machines developed for shrimp farming purposes.

A shrimp farming survey was conducted with the help of experts from abroad, leading to the discovery of 40,000 potential sites within the province. Such preparatory work serves as the basis for the entire Punjab shrimp farming initiative, ensuring informed decisions about suitable sites for developing an extensive shrimp farming operation.

Ali Wala is home to a hatchery operation boasting an output capacity of 280 million shrimp annually across 5,300 acres of land divided into 737 ponds. The site houses two processing facilities; one has an output capacity of 10 tons per hour, whereas the other operates at an output level of five tons per hour. Ali Wala area will serve as a critical node within the Punjab shrimp farming initiative.

The construction of the country's premier aquaculture shopping center is set to commence in Shah Garh, Punjab. For the first time ever, Punjab will adopt aquaculture practices via modern equipment based on the successful implementation in countries such as China, Norway, Indonesia, Vietnam, Denmark, India, and Ecuador.

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Shrimp Farming Project: A New Regulatory Body for Food Security

Setting up Punjab’s first-ever Aquaculture Authority will prove to be an important step towards improving food security in the province. It involves bringing university graduates and local farmers onboard right from the start of the Punjab shrimp farming initiative, which not only generates employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for youth but also helps boost exports.

The Special Committee chaired by the Provincial CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif was briefed about the progress regarding shrimp aquaculture initiatives. In its meeting, the provincial chief minister gave initial approval regarding the preparation of the strategy to expand the shrimp farming initiative over 30,000 acres in Punjab, including Bahawalpur.

The CM ordered the authorities to move quickly regarding implementing tech-based shrimp farming operations in Sargodha, where successful trials have already been carried out in the city of Muzaffargarh. Additionally, she ordered that the private sector be gradually introduced into the shrimp farming program in Punjab to attract more investments in the program.

She ordered the authorities to accelerate the implementation of tech-based shrimp farming in Sargodha, where successful trials have already been completed in the city of Muzaffargarh

According to information obtained at the meeting, trial production of shrimps and tiger shrimps is underway in Shah Garh and Ali Wala of Muzaffargarh, as well as Sargodha. In this regard, preparations for 1,000 shrimp farms covering 5,500 acres have been completed across Punjab. Stocking and production of shrimps have begun on many farms. This represents significant development within the aquaculture sector in Punjab.

According to the statement issued, the aquaculture mall will offer shrimp farmers key inputs such as seed and feeds, along with rentals for machines that can be used by farmers without the financial capacity to buy machinery. The move is expected to make entry easier for smaller shrimp farmers interested in participating in this lucrative business opportunity.

The Pakistan government will set up a shrimp diagnostics lab for the first time in the country, which would consist of different units including chemistry, pathology, and microbiology labs. An educational hall would also be built inside the Ali Wala aquaculture mall, enabling shrimp farmers and technicians to learn contemporary shrimp farming techniques.

Shrimp farming will be undertaken on 500 acres of land that includes 167 ponds at village 58-NB, located near Sargodha. According to the details obtained from the Punjab Fisheries & Livestock Department, this shrimp farm near Sargodha will be capable of yielding 280 PL (Post Larvae) along with 10 million shrimps per annum. There will be an aqua-mall and processing factory built as well.

Solar hybrid systems would be put up to supply sufficient energy needed for shrimp farming activities. This approach aims at embedding sustainability elements within the project framework from the very beginning itself.

The briefing further stated that harvesting machines and automatic feeders were already tested in the cultivation of shrimp farms in Shah Garh of the district Muzaffargarh. The officials claimed that application of modern technology for the purpose of surveillance of shrimp cultivation process proved successful with 100 percent results. In the first project area of Shah Garh, as many as 100 individuals had been trained with the latest farming methods.

According to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the program aims to convert bare lands of Punjab into an export hub of shrimps. "As soon as the value chain is created in Punjab, Punjab will become a pioneer in shrimp exports," she stated. She added that millions of dollars of foreign exchange being utilized to import shrimps in order to meet local demands can now be saved through indigenous production under the Punjab shrimp farming program.

There was also a comprehensive discussion of the Kahna Fish Market, which indicates that the wider review went beyond shrimp aquaculture to include other elements of the state’s seafood and aquaculture industry.

Shrimp farming continues to be one of the cheapest sources of proteins globally. Many countries earn hundreds of millions of dollars per year via shrimp export activities. The project is expected to involve construction of a hatchery capable of producing 280 million shrimps per annum within the region of Ali Wala. Involvement of Punjab in this international venture via its shrimp farming project might potentially establish the province's presence in the international arena of fish products trade in coming years.