KARACHI: Pakistan has begun construction work on an environmentally efficient floating jetty at the Kur’angi Fisheries Harbor Authority (KoFHA) in Karachi to boost the country’s seafood exports, the maritime affairs minister announced this week.
Pakistan’s seafood exports currently stand at around $500 million annually, with key markets including China, the Gulf, Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States.
The floating jetty, costing Rs120 million ($429,000), will be completed by June and will facilitate fisherfolk in offloading export-quality fish catches.
“The initiative would ensure safer and more reliable access to the water, while facilitating the smooth landing and unloading of fish catch,” Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry was quoted as saying by the information ministry.
“The project aimed to boost operational efficiency and create new economic opportunities for coastal communities.”
Unlike fixed structures, the floating jetty would adjust to tidal variations, reducing dependence on water levels and ensuring uninterrupted access for fishing vessels, according to the minister. This would enable fishermen to handle their catch more efficiently regardless of tidal conditions.
“Improved accessibility would shorten turnaround times between fishing trips, allowing fishermen to spend more time at sea while lowering operational costs,” Chaudhry said, adding the floating jetty would be particularly suitable for shallow-water areas.
The facility would include a dedicated offloading point integrated with catch-monitoring systems to promote sustainable fishing practices, improve resource management and operations in shallow-water areas, and to enhance efficiency in the fisheries sector.
Chaudhry termed floating jetties a “cost-effective solution for areas with significant tidal fluctuations,” stressing that the project’s design and construction would take into account potential impacts on the surrounding marine ecosystem.
“The project would strengthen the fisheries sector and contribute to the socio-economic uplift of coastal communities,” he added.
The development comes days after Pakistan’s maritime minister said Russia had approved 16 local seafood processing plants for exports, opening a new market worth up to $300 million for the country’s fisheries sector as it seeks to diversify beyond traditional destinations.
“This paves the way for our first-ever shipments to Russia and the broader Eurasian market,” Chaudhry said.
The Russian government did not immediately comment on the development, which marked an expansion of trade ties between Pakistan and Russia that have historically remained limited but have seen gradual growth in recent years.
