Lahore (HRNW)- The Punjab government has given in-principle approval to prepare a plan for expanding shrimp farming across 30,000 acres in the province, with modern machinery and artificial intelligence-based technology being introduced following pilot projects in Muzaffargarh and Sargodha.
A briefing on shrimp aquaculture projects was given during a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The meeting was informed that around 1,000 shrimp farms have already been developed on approximately 5,500 acres, where stocking and production activities have begun.
According to the briefing, a survey conducted with the assistance of foreign experts identified around 40,000 potential sites for shrimp farming. In Muzaffargarh, 737 ponds will be developed across 5,300 acres in the Shahgarh and Aliwala areas, along with a hatchery capable of producing 280 million shrimp annually.
Two processing plants with capacities of 10 tons and 5 tons per hour are also planned at Aliwala. The project will include Pakistan’s first shrimp diagnostic laboratory, equipped with chemistry, pathology and microbiology facilities.
The meeting was further informed that Pakistan’s first aquaculture mall will be established in Shahgarh to provide shrimp farmers with seeds, feed and modern machinery on rental, as well as training facilities.
In Sargodha, shrimp farming will be carried out in 167 ponds covering 500 acres in Village 58-NB. The project is expected to have an annual production capacity of 10 million post-larvae (PL), with plans for a hatchery, aquaculture mall and processing plants. A proposal for a hybrid solar energy system was also presented.
Officials said modern equipment, including harvesters and automatic feeders, had been successfully tested in Shahgarh, Muzaffargarh. Monitoring through modern technology reportedly produced positive results, while 100 people have been trained in modern shrimp farming techniques.
University graduates and local farmers are also being included in the project, with the government aiming to create employment and business opportunities for young people and increase Pakistan’s shrimp exports.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed officials to accelerate the expansion of modern shrimp farming in Sargodha based on the experience gained from Muzaffargarh and ordered the phased inclusion of the private sector.
She said Punjab’s barren land could be transformed into a major center for shrimp exports. According to the Chief Minister, establishing a complete value chain could increase shrimp exports and reduce foreign exchange spent on imports by increasing local availability for the food industry.
The meeting was also informed that the establishment of an Aquaculture Authority in Punjab is an important step toward strengthening food security, while modern aquaculture technologies used in countries including China, Norway, Indonesia, Vietnam, Denmark, India and Ecuador are being adopted.
The Chief Minister also gave in-principle approval for preparing a shrimp farming project covering 30,000 acres in Bahawalpur and other areas of Punjab. A detailed briefing was also provided on the proposed Kahna Fish Market project.
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