Significant progress has been made in the development of the fisheries sector in Balochistan. Following the approval of the Balochistan Fisheries Policy by the Provincial Assembly, the process of legalizing it in the form of an Act is currently underway.
In this context, a consultative meeting was held between a high-level delegation of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Islamabad and the Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences (LUAWMS). The role of the Gwadar Lasbela Livelihood Support Program (GLLSP) was also acknowledged and appreciated during the session.
The Balochistan Fisheries Policy was formulated by FAO in collaboration with the IFAD Project under the GLLSP framework, with technical input from experts of the LUAWMS Faculty of Marine Sciences. University researchers contributed recommendations focused on the sustainable use of marine resources, welfare of fishermen, and evidence-based research, which were incorporated into the policy document.
During the meeting, it was decided that LUAWMS will nominate two expert representatives to join the Technical Working Group, ensuring that the provincial fisheries policy also serves as a foundation for the formulation of a national fisheries policy.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Abdul Malik Tareen assured the FAO delegation of LUAWMS’s full cooperation and emphasized the university’s continued commitment to improving the quality of life of the fishing community through research, innovation, and sustainable development in collaboration with programs like GLLSP.
Participants
The FAO delegation was led by Dr. Kanwar Javed, accompanied by Dr. Alauddin Kaktar, Sharafat Ali Khan, Zahoor Ahmed, Abdul Qudoos Baloch, and Khalil Ronjha.
Representing Lasbela University were Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Abdul Malik Tareen, Registrar Dr. Balach Rasheed Baloch, Dean Faculty of Marine Sciences Prof. Dr. Azra Bano, Chairman Marine Sciences Department Dr. Waliullah Masroor Abro, Dr. Zafarullah, and Dr. Saima Siddique.
The participants emphasized that collaboration between academia, local communities, and development programs such as GLLSP is vital for the successful implementation of the fisheries policy. This partnership will not only protect the livelihoods of fishermen and enhance community development but will also strengthen the economy of Balochistan.
