Projects to curb seafood smuggling to Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Four new development projects are being implemented in order to enhance seafood exports and curb smuggling of seafood to Afghanistan and other countries from Peshawar, sources at the commerce ministry said on Saturday.

The projects, they said, included establishment of regional office and testing laboratory of Marine Fisheries Department at Peshawar, establishment of regional office and testing laboratories of Marine Fisheries Department at Gwadar, upgradation and accreditation of quality control laboratories for environmental contamination and reactivation of Hatchery Complex for production of fish and shrimp seeds.

The appropriate trainings and guidance of fishermen on different aspects resulted in increase in seafood export revenues, which reached to $324 million during the last fiscal year of 2015/16.  The sources said the trainings were aimed at reducing post harvest losses on board fishing vessels and were imparted on hygiene deckhand, navigational electronic equipment, modern fishing techniques etc.

Training of around 2,500 fishermen and fisheries related personnel on different aspects was arranged to bring high quality products, which fetch higher price in market.

The sources, while enumerating the steps taken by the government to enhance export of seafood products, said a model shrimp farm in district Thatta has been established by Fisheries Development Board with funding from Export Development Fund (EDF) to enhance supply of raw material to local seafood industry.

Under the Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2015/18, matching grant of up to a maximum of Rs5 million for specified plant and machinery or specified items is provided to improve product design and encourage innovation in small and medium enterprises and export sectors of leather, pharmaceutical and fisheries.

The EDF board also approved Rs96 million for establishment of Pen Feh farm of sea bass and groupers along coastal belt of Sindh.

The sources said after a period of about six years, the European Union allowed resumption of export of fish and fisheries products from Pakistan to EU countries.

Two fish processing plants have been enlisted by EU and case of enlistment of five more processing plants is in the process with EU.

They said to meet requirement of EU and other importing countries, two laboratories (microbiology and chemical) have been accredited from Pakistan National Accreditation Council.

Moreover, 2,000 fishing boats have been modified to meet the requirement of EU and other importing countries. 

Guidelines have been prepared and distributed to 137 fish exporters and processors to ensure quality of seafood, pursuant to the requirement of EU and other importing countries on hazard analysis and critical control points.