Aquaculture Park can make Thatta seafood export hub

KARACHI:

An aquaculture park planned along the Sindh's coastal belt will help unlock the potential of Thatta as a seafood export hub, besides creating jobs for the locals and help boost the rural economy, noted the participants of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy Board meeting on Wednesday.

The 48th meeting of the PPP Policy Board, chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, has approved the development of a Model Aquaculture Park along Sindh's coastal belt and the Nabisar-Vajihar Water Supply Project to support Thar's power needs.

Cabinet ministers and senior bureaucrats attended the board meeting which approved the proposed Model Aquaculture Park, to be developed by the SEZ Management Company (SEZMC) on allocated land in Thatta's coastal region.

The park will feature earthen ponds, hatcheries, seafood processing facilities, green energy integration, and international export linkages.

CM Shah said the project would transform Sindh into an export-oriented aquaculture hub. With global aquaculture output reaching 223 million tonnes in 2022, and Pakistan's domestic demand expected to nearly triple by 2030, the CM noted that Sindh - with its 350km coastline and 71 per cent share of the country's marine resources - is well positioned to drive this growth.

He stressed that the initiative would not only boost exports but also promote sustainable farming, create rural employment, foster technology transfer, and contribute to overall economic development. The Board approved funding from the Project Development Facility (PDF) to engage advisors for feasibility evaluation and project structuring.

On the Nabisar-Vajihar Water Supply Project, officials briefed the board on construction progress under the Public-Private Partnership model. The project aims to supply 45 cusecs of water to Thar Block-I power plants. Construction is advancing steadily, with commercial operations expected to begin by October 2025.

The board was informed that stable exchange rates and reduced financing costs have led to substantial savings, keeping the project within budget. CM Shah lauded the efforts of the Sindh government team and the project concessionaire for maintaining timelines and ensuring consistent progress.