MUZAFFARGARH: The first production of Punjab government’s “biggest” pilot project of shrimp farming in Pakistan will be ready next month with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz hoping $1 billion foreign exchange annually through its export.

The pilot project has been launched at Jhalarin North, a suburban area of Muzaffargarh. She inspected this project on Thursday, monitored a colony of shrimps in the pond and gave them feed as well. She also paid an aerial visit to the shrimp farming project. She also inaugurated a pilot project for adaptive research on shrimp farming.

The CM also set a target of shrimp farming on 100,000 acres across Punjab, saying the quality of shrimp was that of international standards to meet the export requirement.

Currently, there are more than 6,800 private fish farms span over an area of 86,000 acres across the province. “This surge in aquaculture is not only a response to the growing demand for seafood but also an opportunity to utilize the region’s underexploited land.”

Maryam sees potential of $1bn annual exports

In Punjab, over 9 million acres of land remains saline and brackish, barren and non-productive. “By developing shrimp farming on these marginal lands, we can transform unproductive areas into thriving ecosystems that contribute to local economies, enhance food security, and promote sustainable agricultural practices,” Ms Nawaz said and added the production of high-value white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in saline and brackish waters has emerged as a successful and established industry in several countries, including Ecuador, China, India, Thailand and Vietnam.

“These nations have capitalized on the unique qualities of these environments, leveraging advancements in aquaculture techniques to maximize yields and enhance sustainability. We have a potential to earn $1bn through shrimp farming on 100,000 acres which is a flagship programme of her government,” the CM said and appreciated senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and her team of fisheries department for their hard work to execute the project in record time of a couple of months.

“There is a huge demand for shrimps worldwide and we should take advantage of it. It can have a profit rate up to 40 per cent. The deserted and barren land in south Punjab will be made usable for shrimp farming. Farmers and investors will be given land and incentives at a minimum lease period for shrimp farming. We will also provide seeds, feed and necessary equipment for shrimp farming.”

She said the shrimp farming project would provide internship and job market opportunities to the youth. “For the first time, shrimp farming is being done on 50 per cent each on local and foreign feed. Some 100 metric tonnes shrimps will be produced from the shrimp farming pilot project on 100 acres. Up to 20,000 people will get employment opportunities from shrimp farming.”

The CM said the target for increasing shrimp farming aquaculture in Punjab to 4,750 acres had been set for coming months.

The capacity building of 600 farmers under this project will be enhanced. Provision of machinery and equipment required for shrimp farming on rent will also be arranged for the convenience of farmers.

Maryam Auranzeb said it was a project of Rs8.5bn and local farmers and young graduates would be linked to the industry. Loans would be given to the people to encourage them to do this farming, she said and added this business could be started off with an amount of Rs1.7m promising good profit. “The government will facilitate private sector to sell the product here and abroad,” Ms Auranzeb concluded.

After visiting the project, the CM held an administrative meeting of Muzaffarghar in which she ordered suspension of the EDO education on charges of corruption.

She snubbed the deputy commissioner for his unawareness of corruption committed by the EDO. She also asked the DPO to take action against over 10 policemen in the district accused of corruption. She said corruption was her red line and those involved in it should not be spared. She, however. appreciated the DPO for taking steps to cleanse the district of drugs.

The PML-N MPAs of the districts brought the attention of the CM to ‘no neurologist’ in the district on which she said the government was facing the shortage of neurologists in Punjab and she was doing the needful to address the matter.

Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, Senior Minister Maryam Auranzeb and Information and Culture Minister Azma Zahid Bokhari were also present.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2024