KP’s Fisheries: A Potential Powerhouse for Economic Growth

Fakhar-e-Alam

Peshawar: Unaware of the famous ‘Peshawari Qehwa’ being sold at his shop at historic Ghanta Ghar, 40-year-old Barukat Ali, a progressive fisherman, was working against the clock to fulfill an order placed by a marriage hall in the bustling city known for its mouthwatering food cuisines and hospitality.

Ali, who was surrounded by a huge stock unloaded by his brother at Ghanta Ghar fish market established in 1980, was seen repeatedly asking to expedite its packing for timely transportation to customers at Gul Bahar Peshawar by Saturday afternoon, with the help of three laborers.

 “Following an unprecedented hike in prices of sacrificial animals and chicken meat, the culture of serving guests with seafood during wedding and birthday parties was making inroads in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, especially in Peshawar, besides an increase of hotels’ fish demands, making a positive economic impact on people’s associations with this business,” Ali explained while cleaning perspirations with a white handkerchief as the siren of tsunami rickshaws blared. “After graduation, I jumped to this profitable business some 18 years ago after failing to find a government job, but today, I am living a dignified life while providing employment to three other labourers,” he said. It is to be mentioned here that the fisheries sector of KP employed from 200,000 to 300,000 people directly and indirectly.

Barkat Ali said that due to transportation costs, native fish were better suited to Peshawar traders than Karachi and Balochistan.

Zubair Khan, the Director Fisheries Department, said that Pakistan was blessed with numerous water resources in the form of marine, saline, and freshwater reservoirs where a variety of aquatic flora and fauna could be found in abundance. He added that 531 fish species were reared in the country, including 233 of freshwater rivers, lakes, and ponds in the province.

He said that in Pakistan, freshwater ponds cover 60,470 hectares area and natural warm water lakes cover 110,000 hectares, and that Malakand and Hazara divisions as well as Kurram district, are most suitable for trout fish farming due to cold temperature and water.

Despite numerous health benefits, he claims that fish consumption is just approximately 1 percent in Pakistan, where per capita consumption is only 2kg per year, compared to 17kg globally.

Professor Dr Muhammad Naeem, chairman of the Economics Department at the University of Swabi, said that fish farming was a very profitable business that can help solve the country’s economic problems by providing financial incentives to fish farmers.Pakistan’s seafood exports, which earned over Rs12.40 billion during the last fiscal year, would be enhanced with China and other neighboring countries after the completion of CPEC, he added.

“The total fish production during the fiscal year 2016-17 was approximately 477,000 metric tonnes, of which 332,000MT was obtained through marine resources and the remaining through inland fisheries,” he said, adding that this production was only 8,430MT in 2010.

Similarly, in 2017-18, 482,000 MT production was recorded, with 338,000 MT coming from marine resources and the remaining from inland reservoirs. Approximately 701,726 MT of fish were produced in 2019-20, with 474,025 MT coming from marine, while a 1.5 percent decrease was witnessed during 2020-21 due to overfishing in rivers, ponds, and other shrinking resources.

He said that if our population growth rate continued at its current rate, an extra 53,000MT of fish production would be required by 2030.

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 The indigenous shermai fish, which is mostly found in River Kabul, is in grave danger due to water pollution, overfishing, and climate change’s vulnerabilities, he said. A ban on shermai hunting and the discharge of contaminated water from marble industrial units of Warsak Road in Peshawar and Mohmand district into River Kabul may be imposed to save endangered species from their possible extinction.

“Shermai is a sensitive species that needs more oxygen than other types of fish in water for survival and breeding,” said Director Fisheries Zubair. Directives were issued to field staff to take strict legal action against elements involved in its illegal hunting, particularly through nets and electric currents, he added.

General Secretary (GS) of the Swat Trout Fish Farming Association, Usman Ali alleged that around 220 trout and carp farms in Swat Valley were damaged by the devastating floods of 2022 and demanded a compensation package. “Any farmer with 50 marla land and a proper water inflow and outflow system can produce 3,000 kg trout in 15 to 18 months and earn about Rs2.5 million profit. 1 kilogram of trout was sold in the open market for Rs 2200 to Rs 2500 per kilogram, and the production increased further in the case of quality breeding,” Ali explained.

“Pakistan can earn substantial revenue by giving special incentives to trout farmers, in addition to the construction of new trout lakes, especially in the Malakand and Hazara divisions, and giving it the status of an industry,” Ali suggested.

According to Zubair, trout village projects in the Hazara and Malakand divisions were launched, with 93 trout fish farms established using a 50:50 cost-sharing formula.  On 15 Kanal in Salathanar Upper Swat, a model trout hatchery with the potential to generate 6 million fish seeds per year was established.

An Rs1200 million coldwater fishery resources project, a joint venture of the federal and provincial governments on a 40:60pc cost-sharing basis, was underway in Malakand and Hazara divisions, with 297 trout lakes being established, he informed.

“A reservoir development project worth Rs500 million has been approved, under which 67 carp fish farms and a model hatchery on 179 kanal at Swabi will be established, from which fish seedlings will be provided to private hatcheries and the Turbella dam,” the expert in fishery explained.With the completion of these projects, he said that the KP’s fish production would rise to 740 metric tons by 2024, up from the current 400 metric tonnes.The official advised a systematic mechanism for disposing of hotel garbage in the Malakand and Hazara divisions, citing water pollution and climate change as a big threat to trout farming.

Work on the ‘development of fisheries resources in merged areas’ has started, with Rs 220 million allocated in the first phase, with a model coldwater research center established at Madyan Swat, complete with a fish hatchery, where academia and young researchers would be able to conduct research on various aquatic resource issues.

Boosting the fishery business in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa can have significant economic and nutritional benefits for the region.

However, the government will need to create a supportive environment by implementing advanced strategies that demand the participation of government and private sector stakeholders.

The feature was released by APP.

Pictures Credit: ThePenPK.com