Federal Secretary of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Ismail Querashi, has said that the self-imposed ban on export of seafood to European Union (EU) would be lifted once a system ensuring supply of quality raw material of processing and export to EU is established. Presiding over a meeting at Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) here on Saturday, he said that the government was taking all necessary steps for restoring seafood exports to European Union countries.
He said that Minfal has acquired the services of three international experts, namely Dr Mike Dillon, Peter Davison and Terry James, through Unido for helping and guiding in the improvement programme being implemented by federal and provincial governments.
The experts have conducted a number of workshops and training programmes for improvement of the hygienic conditions and seafood inspection system. Dr Dillon is supporting Marine Fisheries Department; Davison is working with industry; and James is working with Karachi Fish Harbour Authority.
He said that evaluation of fishing boats, landing centre, auction halls and establishment would be done in the last week of July 2005. After satisfactory improvement, decision on lifting suspension of exports to European Union countries would be taken.
The government has taken actions which involve improvement of the entire cold storage chain starting from fishing boats to processing. Sindh government allocated Rs 14 million for the improvement of Karachi Fish Harbour.
A separate area is being developed in the harbour under Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority to meet the requirements of European Commission. Work on this area will be completed by July 15, 2005.
About 50 boats have been improved. Export Promotion Bureau has provided Rs 2.7 million for procurement of the insulated fish boxes for use on these improved fishing boats. These boxes are being imported and will be provided to the fishermen. List of shortcomings noticed by the Inspection Mission in the seafood processing plants have already been completed.