ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Saturday announced plans to establish a 100-acre seafood processing and export zone at the Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KoHFA), with an estimated cost of $80 million, to promote the blue economy and expand Pakistan’s footprint in global seafood trade.

In a statement, the minister said the project aims to develop, finance and operate a modern seafood processing and value-addition complex under KoHFA, positioning Korangi as a regional hub for sustainable, technology-driven seafood processing linked to high-value international markets.

He said the initiative would bridge medium-scale seafood processors and value-added plants with global buyers by providing modern infrastructure, internationally recognised certification standards and efficient export logistics. The project, he added, would help shift exports away from raw seafood towards higher-value processed products.

According to the minister, the zone would span 100 acres at Korangi Fisheries Harbour, with project costs estimated between $60m and $80m, based on regional benchmarks from countries such as Vietnam, China and Ecuador that have developed similar seafood parks.

Minister announces $80m project to boost value-added exports and blue economy

Planned facilities include multi-tenant seafood processing units, large-scale cold storage, packaging facilities, logistics and export terminals, and a wastewater treatment plant to ensure environmentally compliant operations. The zone would be used exclusively for commercial seafood processing, packaging, cold storage and export-oriented activities.

Mr Chaudhry said the project is proposed under a public-private partnership or build-operate-transfer concession model, in which private investors would develop, operate, and maintain the facility, while KoHFA would retain regulatory oversight and provide facilitation.

He said the zone would host 20 to 25 medium- and large-scale seafood processing units for fish, shrimp and cephalopod processing, value addition and export-grade packaging. The project would also include a cold storage and blast-freezing complex with multi-temperature storage ranging from minus 18 to minus 40 degrees Celsius, enabling the safe handling of fresh, processed, and unprocessed seafood. Ice plants and flake ice stations with a daily capacity of 50 to 100 tonnes would support fish landing, processing and transportation.

Dedicated value-addition and ready-to-eat units would be set up for filleting, marinated products, breaded seafood, and export-oriented convenience foods, allowing Pakistani exporters to access premium retail and foodservice markets abroad.

The minister said alternative models could include joint development and operations partnerships between KoHFA and private seafood exporters or manufacturers. He added that the project would position Pakistan as a key maritime trade and seafood export hub serving Gulf, East African and Asian markets.

Mr Chaudhry said the initiative is aligned with Pakistan’s National Blue Economy Policy and Vision 2030, and benefits from strategic connectivity to Karachi Port, Port Qasim, the Korangi Industrial Area and regional shipping routes.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2026