Efforts on to resume seafood exports to EU

KARACHI - All out efforts should be made to bring improvement at the Karachi Fish Harbour so that seafood exports to the European Union (EU) may be resumed at the earliest, said Zahid Ali Bhurgari, Minister for Fisheries Sindh & Chairman Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA). During a meeting held at the Karachi Fish Harbour, the minister said that the government is keen to invite the EU team for inspection of the Karachi Fish Harbour in September. Muhammad Moazzam, Director General Marine Fisheries Department, Aijaz Ahmed Mangi, Managing Director KFHA, Shoaib Muhammad Khan, Director Administration & Finance KFHA, Jafar Khawaja Administration FCS, Haqdad Khan, Member KFHA Board and other officers of KFHA & FCS were present on the occasion. He was informed that 218 boats (large/ small) had been inspected so far. Out of which, work orders to 170 boats had been issued. 141 boats were under construction/modification. Whereas, 38 boats are standing modified. Minister expressed his satisfaction on the progress of boat modification, however, he urged the concerned officers to expedite it. The Sindh government has allocated an amount of Rs251.562m for the boat modification. Under this scheme, 200 large and 3,000 small boats would be modified. The cost sharing would be 75:25 on each large boat and 90:10 on each small boat to be modified. The KFHA has also issued insulated Plastic Container (IPCs) to 173 small boats last year. It was decided in the meeting that FCS would issue health certificate while the KFHA would issue crew card or crew list. It was also decided that entry in Red Zone (Auction Halls and adjacent road) should be restricted, while only authorised persons would be allowed in Auction Halls, which is not per EU requirement. Aziz Ahmed Barlas Secretary KFHA informed the minister that from August 31, no person would be allowed except the officials concerned to enter the Red Zone without valid Entry Card duly issued by the KFHA.

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