Gwadar’s seafood, date industries have $850m annual export potential: Junaid
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, stated that exports of fisheries and dates from Balochistan—particularly Gwadar—have the potential to generate up to $850 million annually. He emphasized that fisheries and dates are the backbone of Gwadar’s economic future and must be prioritized in development strategies.
Chairing a high-level meeting on the operationalization of Gwadar Port, attended by officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and representatives from the Gwadar Port Authority, Ministries of Commerce, Industries, and Communications (via Zoom), the minister laid out a comprehensive strategy aimed at boosting economic activity in the region.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to utilizing local resources and empowering local businesses, Chaudhry said that making Gwadar Port fully operational is essential for regional economic growth.
“Gwadar is rich in marine resources. We need to focus on local value addition to maximize benefits from the fisheries sector,” he said. He noted that 34 fish processing units are currently operating in Balochistan, but most require technological upgrades to meet international export standards. “Upgrading these units for packaging and processing is critical for the growth of the fisheries sector,” he added.
The minister also highlighted that Balochistan accounts for 76.2% of Pakistan’s total coastline, yet its contribution to national fish production is significantly below potential. “Balochistan has an annual fish catch potential of around 300,000 tons, which with proper value addition, could generate nearly \$645 million per year. However, current output is about half due to outdated technology, low fishing capacity, and regulatory challenges,” he explained. Speaking about the date industry, the minister said that Panjgur and Turbat (Kech) districts produce over 225,000 tons of dates annually—more than half of Pakistan’s total production. With value addition, this sector alone can contribute \$200–$205 million annually, he added. To improve connectivity and support economic activity, Chaudhry announced an increase in air travel services to the region. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will increase weekly flights to Gwadar from one to three. “Two flights between Gwadar and Karachi, and one between Gwadar and Islamabad, are under consideration,” he said. The minister also mentioned that a chartered flight mechanism for investors and businesspersons is being explored to further facilitate business activity in the region.
