After failing to mend fences with EU, Pakistan has now explored new substantial markets - Egypt, Lebanon, South Africa and Turkey, for seafood export. As a result, exports rose by over 16 percent during July-November period of the current fiscal year, as compared to exports during the same period last fiscal year 2007-08, exporters told Business Recorder on Friday.
Middle East also has emerged as a potential seafood market that has enhanced the country's seafood export, they said and added that if this tempo also continued for EU, the export could touch $250 million. With a view to halt the falling trend in the fisheries sector, search of new markets has become imperative.
"Ban on the country's seafood export is unlikely to be lifted for some more years because the concerned government authorities are not taking interest, they said. Pakistan exported $21.558 million, worth of sea food in November 2008 as compared to export of $19.870 million worth in November 2007, depicting a rise of 1.688 million or 8.50 percent.
Similarly, the country registered a robust growth of $11.56 million or 16.18 percent during the July-November period of the current fiscal year. The country exported seafood worth $83.001 million during the July-November 2008 period as compared to export of $71.441 million during July-November period of the last fiscal year, 2007-08.
But, on a monthly basis, the country's seafood export was reduced by $5.172 million or 19.35 percent in November 2008 as compared to exports in October 2008 ($26.730 million), according to the Federal Bureau of Statistics. Talking to Business Recorder, former Chairman of Pakistan Seafood Industries Association (PSIA) Sardar Muhammad Hanif Khan said that Pakistani seafood products are cheaper than that of other exporting countries to EU.
But, more expensive than seafood items of China and Japan. He said that these newly explored markets are good for Pakistan and efforts are under way to make it more lucrative to scale down the losses incurred after the EU put its ban.
"If these new export venues -Egypt, Lebanon, South Africa and Turkey become stable for us then there would be no loss from losing the bigger market, EU," he said. Pakistan is benefiting from the other aspect as seafood sent to these new markets is re-exported to EU and other developed countries.
Hanif Khan said that the prospects are dim for the removal of EU ban, as the government's concerned agencies, like Karachi Fish Harbour Authority and Marine Fisheries Department are lacking in expertise and planning and the will to complete the assignments of modifications. Almost a decade has passed that there is no progress on the modification project, although the government has announced huge amounts for the relief of local fishermen, he added.