Gwadar’s Blue Economy Targets $850 Million Annual Revenue

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, announced that Gwadar Port has the capacity to generate over $850 million annually through value-added exports of fisheries and dates. Speaking at a high-level meeting on Gwadar Port’s operationalisation, which included officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and representatives from key ministries such as Commerce, Industries, Communications, and the Gwadar Port Authority, the minister outlined a strategic plan to harness the region’s economic potential.

Gwadar Port, strategically located in Balochistan and central to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), plays a critical role in Pakistan’s economic future. The minister emphasized the untapped potential in two key sectors: fisheries and dates. By modernizing local fish processing units and promoting advanced packaging methods before export, the fish industry alone could contribute around $645 million annually. Currently, despite Balochistan’s coastline representing 76.2% of Pakistan’s total coastal length and an estimated fish catch potential of 300,000 tons, actual production remains significantly below potential due to outdated infrastructure and regulatory hurdles.