Export of perishable goods to UAE, other Gulf countries: government all set to begin speedy vessel service

Pakistan is all set to start a speedy vessels service for export of perishable commodities like fruits, vegetables and seafood to UAE and Gulf countries, officials of Ministry of Ports and Shipping said on Thursday. Federal Ports and Shipping Minister, Senator Kamran Michael, has approved the speedy cargo vessels' project, which the intentional private shipping companies will operate from Karachi port to UAE and Gulf countries. The operation will start within a month.
At a meeting at KPT headquarters, which was attended by DG Fisheries, Chairman PNSC, representatives of international shipping lines, Federation Chambers of Commerce and Industries and vegetable and fruits associations, Kamran Michael assured the stakeholders of complete support of his ministry, they said. Around 13 private companies are interested in the project to take export consignments in their speedy vessels from Karachi port to the harbours of UAE and Gulf countries.
According to the officials, the minister hoped that exports of perishable edible products through speedy cargo vessels will help save the traders time and reduce cost. They added that the vessels will sail at 45-50 nautical miles an hour to reach their destination within 28 hours. The minister told the meeting that the speedy vessels will help scale back the cost of exports by 75 percent as compared to their airfreight charges. At present, the country's exporters are largely relying on airlines for transportation of their commodities.
With the start of rapid shipments through sea routes, Pakistan's exports of meat, vegetables, fruits and fish and other products to the UAE and Gulf countries will grow, besides the nation will be able to earn more foreign exchange through the much-needed service, he added. According to officials, who attended the meeting, the international shipping companies showed their interest in introducing the service within a month.
"These companies have huge logistics to start the planned service," they said, adding that "Kamran Michael assured all stakeholders from fruits, vegetable and fisheries sectors of full support of the ministry."
The minister also informed the stakeholders about other projects of the ministry including development of Gwadar and Karachi Fish harbours and setting up seafood packaging units at Gwadar with the help of Belgium, officials said. He was of the view that the fish and shrimp that are hunted in Balochistan seawaters are of a high-quality with great global appeal.
The rapid and low cost seaborne exports of seafood products to UAE and Gulf nations will encourage the local traders to invest more in the business. Michael said that the ministry had planned to import 50 boats, which would be offered to fishermen at instalments, besides making effort to raise living standards of seafarers' community of the country. The fibre glass fishing boats will have general packet radio service (GPRS) facility and life saving tools with a view to equip the local fishermen so that they could easily carry out deep-sea operations in all weathers without troubles.