Pakistan plans a 100-acre mariculture estate at Korangi Fisheries Harbour featuring aquaculture, hatcheries, research, processing and commercial zones.
KARACHI: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has unveiled plans to establish a 100-acre Mariculture Investment and Development Estate (MIDE) at the Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KoFHA), aimed at attracting investment and accelerating Pakistan’s blue economy.
Speaking at a briefing on the proposed project, the minister said the estate would bring together mariculture and aquaculture activities with hatcheries, research and innovation, seafood processing, value addition, cold-chain facilities and commercial services under an integrated development framework.
Mariculture involves farming marine organisms in coastal and ocean environments. The sector includes the cultivation of species such as fish, shrimp, oysters, mussels and seaweed, while ensuring farming activities are managed in harmony with the surrounding marine environment.
Four-zone development plan
According to the concept master plan, the proposed estate will comprise four principal zones:
• 30-acre mariculture zone
• 20-acre hatchery zone
• 20-acre aqua research park
• 20-acre commercial district
Junaid Chaudhry said the development of a modern mariculture ecosystem could enable Pakistan to move towards higher-value fisheries production, strengthen aquatic seed production and expand value-added and export-oriented activities.
He said the hatchery zone would facilitate advanced aquatic seed production, while the aqua research park would provide dedicated facilities for research, innovation, training and technology development.
The estate is also planned to include seafood processing facilities, cold-chain infrastructure, commercial and hospitality services, sustainable infrastructure and green spaces.
Modern infrastructure planned for mariculture estate
The proposed MIDE would feature an integrated internal road network along with dedicated power and renewable-energy facilities.
The infrastructure plan also includes water supply and treatment systems, wastewater treatment facilities, information and communication technology infrastructure, smart-estate management systems, security and surveillance arrangements, as well as green belts and landscaped areas.
The minister said the initiative was designed to attract investment, increase exports, create employment and promote technology and innovation, supporting Pakistan’s broader blue-economy ambitions.
“Investing in modern marine infrastructure and technology is essential for building a sustainable blue economy and creating new economic opportunities for coastal communities,” Junaid Chaudhry said.
Project aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s blue economy
The concept plan identifies the National Deep Sea Fishing Harbour and KoFHA as the institutional setting for the proposed development.
The integrated estate is expected to create an ecosystem in which production, seed development, research, processing, value addition, logistics and commercial activities operate within a coordinated framework.
By combining marine farming with research, modern processing and cold-chain infrastructure, the proposed development could provide a platform for expanding Pakistan’s fisheries sector and creating new opportunities for coastal communities and investors.
The proposed 100-acre mariculture estate in Korangi is therefore intended to bring multiple parts of the marine economy together within a single planned development, while supporting investment, exports and technological development in Pakistan’s fisheries sector.