Resources
Agriculture, including fisheries, is a dominant sector in Pakistan's economy. While the agriculture sector contributes about 28 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), the fisheries sector plays a relatively small role and contributes 0.8 per cent. Pakistan has a short coastline (1050 km), limited continental shelf area, and generally low consumer preference for sea fish. Pakistan's aquaculture is still in its infancy.
The country has extensive inland water areas which, depending on the type of water body, have varying degrees of potential for the development of inland fisheries and aquaculture. The water resources of Pakistan are dominated by the Indus River which flows from the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) through Punjab Province where it is joined by four large river systems, the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej. These rivers flow through the Punjab and converge into the much larger Indus River before coursing through the Sind Province to the Delta where it meets the sea.
The dominant features of the Indus River system are the numerous reservoirs and the extensive canal and irrigation system that form a network of interconnecting water courses throughout Punjab and Sind Provinces. This system irrigates 16 million hectares of land with 44 principal supply canals and a network of 89,000 water courses and drainage canals.
Even with this canal system, many areas lack appropriate drainage. As a result, thousands of square kilometers of water-logged areas have been formed which are not suitable for agriculture but could be developed for aquaculture and inland fisheries.
There are a number of lakes, reservoirs and other open water bodies suitable for aquaculture and inland fisheries in the provinces of Sind, Punjab and NWFP. The total area of these lakes and reservoirs is more than 150,000 ha. There are also 385,000 ha of brackishwater intertidal lands in the Indus Delta that have potential for aquaculture development.
Production
It is difficult to draw conclusions from the inadequate data collection system in place in Pakistan but production from inland fisheries appears to be increasing.
Inland Fisheries Production (mt)
| Years | |||||
| 81–82 | 82–83 | 83–84 | 84–85 | 85–86 | |
| Sind | 36 751 | 37 289 | 37 405 | 44 619 | 41 567 |
| Punjab | 15 200 | 16 900 | 17 870 | 19 400 | 22 400 |
| NWFP | - | - | - | 574 | 768 |
| Totala | 64 503 | 64 735 | |||
a Excludes Baluchistan, Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas
Source: Provincial DOFs
Aquaculture Development in Pakistan
The first aquaculture development project (FADP) was implemented in Punjab, Sind and NWFP during the Sixth Plan period, with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank. Four existing fish hatcheries in Punjab and one in Sind were upgraded through the provision of equipment and nursery ponds. A fish hatchery at Sukkur and a new trout hatchery at Madyan (NWFP) were also set up. A training centre was established each in Punjab and Sind. Loans were extended to the private sector by ADBP for the establishment of fish ponds. Through this loan, fishponds on 3,000 and 1,000 hectares were set up in Sind and Punjab, respectively.
The Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide a loan of US$ 15 million under the second aquaculture development project (SADP). It will be executed in Punjab, Sind and NWFP. The main activities proposed under the project are:
additional staff and facilities to upgrade fisheries extension service; a fish producer and consumer education programme will be implemented.
demonstration fishfarms will be set up by private fishfarmers; fishfarmer training centres will be set up to train extension workers and fishfarmers.
about 100 ha of gated flood control compartments between the Sukkur and Guddu Barages will be managed as fishponds.
eight new nursery facilities (one in each Division) covering an area of 100 ha will be set up in Punjab, and the existing trout hatcheries at Murree (Punjab) and Shinnu (NWFP) will be improved and rehabilitated.
an Inland Fisheries Statistics unit will be established in Punjab, Sind and NWFP.
about 520 man-months of training to 39 trainees and 190 man-months of consultancy services will be provided.
