Fisheries exports: Prime Minister asks Sindh government to ensure compliance of EU standards

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has asked the Sindh government to ensure compliance of European Union standards to restore the export of fisheries products to the European Union countries.
The Prime Minister was presiding over a meeting at the Sindh Governor House to discuss reservations and observations of the EU and ensure short-term and long-term measures to face and reverse EU decision of de-listing of Pakistani fisheries companies exporting fish to the EU states.
The Prime Minister said that all necessary steps should be taken for upgrading of harbour facilities, improving the sanitary conditions and setting up of state of the art laboratories to ensure compliance of the EU standards.
He said that there is a need to leverage the country's natural advantage of having a long coastline and vast marine and island waters to increase the export of fish products.
He said that given these natural advantages exporting fisheries products to the tune of $1 billion was a conservative target. Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim apprised the Prime Minister of the steps being taken by the Sindh government to restore the export of fisheries to the EU countries. He assured the Prime Minister that the Sindh government was fully seized of the matter and would take all out measures to achieve the target.
Later, at a high level meeting the prime minister was updated on the progress made in introducing mass transit system in Karachi to ease the pressure of traffic congestion.
Highlighting the importance of mass transit system for Karachi, the Prime Minister said that it would provide reliable, affordable and environmentally acceptable mode of transportation to the people. The setting up of mass transit system would create jobs and generate economic activity, he added.
The meeting was attended by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Federal Minister for Information Mohammed Ali Durrani, Minister of State for Agriculture Mohammed Ali Malkani, Minister for State for Finance Omer Ayub Khan, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Sikander Hayat Bosan, Chairman TDPA Tariq Ikram, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Sindh Minister for Labour, Transport and Industries Adil Siddiqui, Advisor to CM on Fisheries Faqir Jadam Mangrio, and senior government officials.