ISLAMABAD, May 20 (Alliance News): The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in partnership with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs (MoMA), organized a stakeholder consultation workshop in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to gather input on the draft National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy 2025–2035.
Held at the FAO KP office, the workshop brought together over 70 participants from government departments, civil society, academia, private industry, and development partners.
The event aimed to incorporate provincial perspectives into the final draft of the national policy, which seeks to improve governance, sustainability, and the socio-economic impact of Pakistan’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.
Farhan Khan, Assistant Fisheries Development Commissioner (MoMA), inaugurated the session, stressing the importance of a robust national policy to boost seafood exports and strengthen Pakistan’s global seafood footprint. He underlined the government’s commitment to inclusive and transparent policymaking.
A senior FAO policy expert gave a detailed presentation outlining the policy’s core principles: sustainable resource use, better governance and regulation, increased productivity, and the integration of social and environmental concerns.
Representatives from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan emphasized the need for transparent financial systems and fair leasing practices in inland fisheries management.
This initiative is supported by FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme Facility (TCPF), which is working closely with both federal and provincial stakeholders to ensure that the policy aligns with international sustainability standards.
Upcoming consultation sessions are scheduled to take place in Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan later this month, followed by a national-level dialogue in Islamabad.
