100-acre mariculture estate planned at Korangi harbour

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has outlined a plan to establish a 100-acre Mariculture Investment and Development Estate (MIDE) at the Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KoFHA). Speaking at a briefing on the proposed project, the minister said the estate would integrate mariculture and aquaculture operations with hatcheries, research and innovation, processing, value addition, cold-chain facilities and commercial services under a single development framework. Mariculture ecosystem operations are the management and functioning of marine farming systems within coastal and ocean environment. They involve cultivating marine organisms such as fish, shrimp, oysters, mussels and seaweed while managing their interaction with the surrounding ecosystem. According to the concept master plan, the estate would have four principal zones including a 30-acre mariculture zone, a 20-acre hatchery zone, a 20-acre aqua research park and a 20-acre commercial district. "The development of a modern mariculture ecosystem can help Pakistan move towards higher-value fisheries production, strengthen aquatic seed production and promote value addition and export-oriented activities," Chaudhry said. He said the hatchery zone would support advanced aquatic seed production, while the research park would provide facilities for research, innovation and training. The estate will also include processing and cold-chain infrastructure, commercial and hospitality facilities, sustainable infrastructure and green spaces. The proposed infrastructure will comprise an internal road network, power and renewable-energy facilities, water supply and treatment systems, wastewater treatment, information and communication technology, smart-estate management, security and surveillance, and green belts and landscaping. Chaudhry said the initiative was aimed at attracting investment, increasing exports, generating employment and promoting technology and innovation as part of the country's blue economy. "Investing in modern marine infrastructure and technology is essential for building a sustainable blue economy and creating new economic opportunities for coastal communities," he said. The concept plan identifies the national deep-sea fishing harbour, KoFHA, as the institutional setting for the proposed development.