According to officials, the 15th progress report of the Sargodha shrimp farming project has been released. So far, nine shrimp ponds on 20 acres have been completed, with 5,320 metres of drainage work finished. Surveys for an additional 10 acres have also been completed as part of the next phase.
Meanwhile, a quality control laboratory in Lahore is nearly complete at a cost of Rs4.5 billion. A second laboratory in Muzaffargarh is 98% finished, supporting shrimp research and aquaculture development. These labs will ensure high-quality standards for the shrimp farming project.
Furthermore, capacity-building initiatives are underway with training visits to Saudi Arabia and Mexico. International specialists Jeffrey and Jamie Dominguez have provided technical guidance in Pakistan. Written exams for 100 interns selected for the project have also been conducted successfully.
Infrastructure development is progressing rapidly with 32 tubewells and eight transformers installed. Shrimp seeds have been introduced into 64 research ponds, while new estates and value chains are being established. CM Maryam Nawaz said the project will boost Punjab’s exports and create thousands of jobs.
