Pakistan Plans Seafood Export Zone in Karachi’s Korangi
Islamabad— The Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has unveiled plans of developing a huge seafood processing and export zone at the Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KoHFA), a move that will enhance the blue economy and value-added seafood exports in Pakistan.
The proposed project will cover around 100 acres at Korangi Fisheries Harbour and is estimated to cost up to $80 million. According to the minister this project would convert Korangi into a regional centre of modern, sustainable and technology-oriented seafood processing, which is directly connected to high-value global markets.
Speaking about the project’s objectives, Chaudhry said the zone will focus on developing, financing, and operating a state-of-the-art seafood processing and value-addition complex under KoHFA. The facility will be able to connect medium-scale seafood processors with global consumers by providing modern infrastructure, internationally recognized certification standards, and efficient export logistics. He noted that this approach will help Pakistan shift from exporting raw seafood to higher-value processed products, thereby improving export earnings and enhancing global competitiveness.
According to the regional experiences of other countries like Vietnam, China and Ecuador who have been able to develop similar sea food industrial parks, the project will cost between $60 million and $80 million.
The infrastructure planned is the multi-tenant seafood processing units, large-scale cold storage, advanced packaging units, dedicated logistics and export terminals, a wastewater treatment plant, to guarantee environmentally compliant operations. The area will only be occupied by commercial seafood processing, cold storage, packaging, and activities involving exports.
According to the minister, this project is suggested in a form of a public-private partnership (PPP) or build-operate-transfer (BOT) model. With this model, the facility would be developed, operated and maintained by the private investors, but the regulation of the facility would be undertaken by KoHFA and institutional facilitation would be done.
Upon operation, the zone is projected to accommodate 20 to 25 medium- and large-scale seafood processing industries focusing on the processing of fish, shrimp, and cephalopods. The facility will also feature a modern cold storage and blast-freezing complex with multi-temperature capacities ranging from –18°C to –40°C, ensuring the safe handling of fresh, processed, and unprocessed seafood. Additionally, ice plants and flake ice stations with a daily capacity of 50–100 tonnes will support fish landing, processing, and transportation operations.
Moreover, special value-addition and pre-cooked units will be opened on fillet products, marinated and breaded seafood, and convenience foods to be used in exports. The facilities will be supposed to enable the Pakistani exporters to reach premium retail and foodservice markets in Europe, Middle East, and Asia.
Chaudhry further stated that there are other possible developmental models such as joint ventures between KoHFA and the private seafood exporters or manufacturing companies. He stressed that the project will put Pakistan as a major maritime trading and seafood exporter and will cater to the Gulf, East African and Asian markets.
The plan is completely in line with the National Blue Economy Policy and Vision 2030 in Pakistan and enjoys strategic placement adjacent to Karachi Port, Port Qasim, the Korangi Industrial Area, and major shipping routes in the region, and is therefore a serious action towards sustainable maritime development and export diversification.
