Pangasius frequently appears at restaurants and banquets in Pakistan

In recent years, dishes made from fish, particularly pangasius, have become a regular feature and are almost always present at restaurants, hotels, and banquets across Pakistan. The success of Vietnamese pangasius in this market is mainly due to its acceptable taste, ease of preparation, guaranteed quality, and competitive pricing.

Moreover, the aquaculture and seafood processing industry has yet to develop in Pakistan. The fish supply for domestic consumption and exports mainly comes from wild catch, but large-scale fishing has led to a decline in the availability of seafood from natural sources.

Therefore, to meet the quantity and standard requirements for seafood products, as well as the demand for pangasius fillets in high-end restaurants and hotels, Pakistan has to import from abroad.

Currently, Pakistan does not have special regulations for imported pangasius other than requiring a health certificate. The country also lacks protective measures such as anti-dumping tariffs or other technical barriers. As a result, VASEP (Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers) believes that Vietnamese businesses need to pay more attention to developing the export of pangasius to Pakistan.

Vietnam’s seafood exports to Pakistan average around 19 million USD per year, accounting for nearly 1% of Vietnam’s total seafood exports to global markets. The main product exported from Vietnam to Pakistan is pangasius, which makes up 98% of the total seafood exports from Vietnam to this market. Vietnam also exports shrimp to Pakistan, primarily black tiger shrimp, followed by white-leg shrimp, although these make up a small proportion.

Source: https://seafood.vasep.com.vn/