Pakistan is endowed with significant water resources, spanning approximately 79,200 square kilometres of rivers, lakes, dams, barrages, wetlands and coastal areas, as well as an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of about 290,270 square kilometres.
Despite this natural wealth, the country’s total fish production remains modest at around 0.807 million metric tons, with 62 per cent originating from marine fisheries and 38 per cent from inland fisheries and aquaculture. Even more concerning is the low level of fish consumption, just 2kg per person annually, far below the global average of 17kg.
Expanding fish production presents a clear opportunity to address both nutritional and economic challenges. Increased production can directly improve consumption among smallholder producers or, indirectly, enhance affordability and accessibility by stabilising market prices. However, the sector continues to face structural limitations. In the marine segment, most fish are exported frozen, which limits value realisation in international markets.
Inland aquaculture is largely dominated by carp, consumed domestically, while species such as tilapia and shrimp are only beginning to emerge. Overall, fisheries value chains remain underdeveloped, with critical gaps in infrastructure, processing and regulatory frameworks.
A functional fisheries value chain typically includes farming, fishing, processing, transportation, wholesale and retail marketing. Key stakeholders range from fish farmers and fishermen to processors, marketers and input suppliers providing seed, feed, medicines, equipment and cold storage solutions. Among these, the most significant bottleneck lies in market readiness for high-value exports. While fish is inherently a value-added commodity with strong international demand, Pakistan lacks standardised quality control protocols and compliance systems necessary to compete globally.
Strengthening biosecurity and quality assurance is therefore essential. This begins at the farm level, with improved biosafety practices, farm management and thorough quality testing. Disease diagnostics form a cornerstone of this system, playing a dual role. First, they ensure that fish stocks being transported, whether domestically or internationally, are free from pathogens, even at subclinical levels. Second, they enable the identification of diseases or abnormalities, allowing for timely and appropriate interventions. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is critical not only for minimising production losses but also for containing, controlling and potentially eradicating diseases.
A testing ecosystem is equally critical. ISO 17025-certified laboratories should be at the centre of this framework, offering comprehensive microbiological analysis for pathogens, chemical testing for heavy metals and screening for antibiotic residues, pesticides, and other contaminants. Water quality monitoring must be routine, covering parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and microbial load. Similarly, fish feed must be evaluated for nutritional composition, toxins, pathogens and chemical contaminants.
At the operational level, implementing a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system is fundamental. This must be supported by end-to-end traceability, from hatchery to export, along with meticulous farm record-keeping covering stocking densities, feeding regimes, treatments, and harvesting practices. To access premium international markets, producers must also pursue globally recognised certifications such as HACCP, ISO 9001, ISO 22000 and aquaculture-specific standards.
However, infrastructure and certification alone are insufficient without human capacity. Training the workforce is critical to ensuring compliance and consistency. Farmers and workers must be equipped with skills in hygiene and sanitation, HACCP implementation, water and feed management, disease monitoring, cold chain logistics and documentation for traceability.
Equally important is the role of institutional collaboration. Public-private partnerships with SGS, the FAO and the ADB can play a transformative role in bridging knowledge and compliance gaps. Development organisations and sector stakeholders must work together to raise awareness and build farmers’ capacity. Key national actors, including provincial fisheries departments, the Fisheries Development Board (FDB), the Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) and fisheries organisations and associations, need to align with private-sector service providers to standardise practices and expand outreach.
By addressing systemic gaps in biosafety, testing, certification and training, Pakistan can unlock the potential of its fisheries sector. Private service providers such as SGS Single Window Solutions can play a pivotal role by offering ISO-17025-accredited testing, helping farmers and exporters verify product safety and quality through recognised laboratory protocols.
Recognised certification services that safeguard investments and ensure adherence to international standards. Facilitating access to high-value export markets enhances production and delivery efficiency through inspections at farms and ports. All such integrated services can help farmers to ensure compliance, traceability and credibility within global markets.
The writer is a senior business development executive (H&N) at SGS Pakistan.
