Mohammad Zafar Baloch

The Balochistan Board of Investment and Trade (BBoIT) has finalized a landmark investment agreement for a Rs5 billion shrimp farming project in the Damb area of Hub under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, marking one of the largest aquaculture initiatives in the province’s history.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard will be signed on September 23 between the Government of Balochistan, represented by BBoIT and the Fisheries Department, and House of Kasib/Dhabeji Aqua Food along with Al-Karam Textile Group. The signing ceremony will take place at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Quetta, with Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti attending as the chief guest, alongside senior government officials, investors, and industry stakeholders.

The project is designed to promote fisheries through the introduction of modern aquaculture practices, create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and significantly boost the province’s exports of shrimp and seafood. It is expected to contribute not only to the local economy of Hub and adjoining coastal areas but also to strengthen Pakistan’s overall seafood export potential.

Bilal Khan Kakar, Vice Chairman of BBoIT, said the provincial government is fully committed to facilitating investors, ensuring ease of doing business, and providing policy support to encourage industrial growth. He emphasized that the shrimp farming initiative will modernize the fisheries sector of Balochistan, generate economic activity across multiple allied industries, and attract both domestic and foreign investment into the province.

Officials noted that the project reflects the government’s determination to harness Balochistan’s untapped coastal resources and position the province as a leading hub of aquaculture and seafood exports in the region. They added that the initiative would also support food security, technology transfer, and skill development for local communities, making it a milestone for sustainable economic development.

Credit: INP-WealthPk