KFHA wants foolproof security at fish harbour

Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) wants to put foolproof security in place at fish harbour to streamline handling of fish-shrimp catch, implement the global hygienic standards and keep close check on foreigners especially Afghans and Bengalis working at the harbour.
KFHA has lately revoked a security agreement with the National Police Foundation (NPF) for fish harbour, as the foundation failed to deploy the required number of personnel with latest security gadgets. According to sources that authority was seeking a fresh contract with a reliable security firm to enhance the security level of fish harbour from where, reportedly, the perpetrators of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks had sailed.
They said that the authority was also negotiating with Home Department for permanent deployment of Pakistan Rangers personnel at fish harbour, and several meetings in this regard had held. An official of KFHA told Business Recorder on Thursday that the authority was facing serious problems in implementing the EU standards due to irregular system of work at the harbour.
Besides, it wants to keep strict vigil on the large number of foreigner workers including Bengalis and Afghans at the harbour. The security level at KPT has already been heightened, which is located next to the fish harbour and any incident of security lapse will create more problems, he added.
"The local workforce, contractors and agents of seafood exporters refuse to follow the standards. Therefore, enhanced security arrangements could only help the authority carry out its affairs properly," he elaborated. A batch of 36 guards including four women of NPF had taken charge of security at fish harbour under one-year renewable agreement with KFHA.
The chief responsibility of the NPF guard was to maintain security at entrance, auction halls and other parts of the harbour, besides carrying out a thorough surveillance and regular patrolling in and around the harbour. But, the NPF had lacked trained private security force, latest security tools, which it had to provide at harbour under the agreement, the official said.
KFHA had hired the private security guards with the primary objective of implementing the EU's standards inside the auction halls, but later the alleged connection of Mumbai attacks' perpetrators with the harbour compelled the authority to expand and tightened the security at the harbour. Sindh Government has allocated Rs 21.630 million for security purpose for a period of three years.