Export of seafood has resumed after the Sindh government lifted restrictions on all kinds of activities while threat of coronavirus grew with unruly crowds at fish harbor, officials said Tuesday.
A new order from the Sindh government revisited the earlier order that completely closed the harbor even bringing seafood export to a halt as exporters clamored for ready consignments may perish if not shipped on time.
Underlining the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for trade of fish and shrimp and supplies to processing units, the Sindh government wants a strict observance of rules to avoid spreading Covid-19 further.
It also warned that an individual or a stakeholder found violating the SOPs at the harbor will be punished under Section 4 of the Sindh Epidemic Disease Control Act 2014.
"In partial modification of this Department's order of even number dated 12-04-2020, Government of Sindh in exercise of powers conferred under Section 3 of the Sindh Epidemic Disease Act 2014 is please to allow the fisheries related activities at Karachi Fisheries Harbor with the strict observance of following SOPs by all the relevant stakeholders," a new order by the Sindh Government's Livestock and Fisheries Department says.
SOPs say: All the stakeholders are required to submit an undertaking in writing to Karachi Fish Harbor Authority agreeing to follow the government's instructions with ensuring social distancing and preventive measures and will provide masks, gloves and sanitizers to workers.
Officials of KFHA and Fishermen Cooperative Society are assigned to monitor all operations at the harbor by controlling traffic to avoid congestion. Seafood catch will be supplied directly to export-oriented factories from boat.
Auction of fish and shrimp catch will be held at the vessel with each representative from FCS, mole-holder, and up to five traders attending the sale-purchase process. Not more than five laborers will be allowed on a boat to offload catch after the auction has taken place.
Landing timing for all boats at the harbor will be from 6 pm to 6 am. After auction of seafood catch, the FCS officials will carry out sanitizing and cleaning of the entire area where auctioned catch was discharged including jetties. Only the KFHA and FCS the authorized vehicles will be permitted to enter the harbor.
Entrance to the export zone will be only through sanitizing gates installed by the FCS. No trader will be permitted to enter the harbor premises while placing seafood catch on the floor will not be allowed. There should not be a public gathering for more than four persons at the harbor, besides all boasts be driven out of the navigational channel, immediately. Lastly, the owners of processing plants will be responsible for to regulate work shifts so congestion of laborers could be avoided.
Pakistan's export of seafood grew by 12.35 percent to $278.637 million in July-Feb 2019-20. Increase in seafood export now stands at $30.637 million in July-Feb 2019-20 from $248 million in July-Feb 2018-19, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shows.
Export volume of seafood also went up by 5 percent or 6440 metric tons to 114,865 metric tons in July-Feb 2019-20 from 108,425 metric tons in July-Feb 2018-19. Down by 17.08 percent or $5.251 million, seafood export declined to $25.495 million in Feb 2020 from $30.746 million in Feb 2019. The country exported 11,504 metric tons of seafood in Feb 2020, which is low by 15 percent or 2002 metric tons, from 13,506 metric tons in Feb 2019.
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