Govt earmarks Rs45mln for seafood certification facility in Gwadar

KARACHI: Government has allocated Rs45 million to set up a seafood certification facility at Gwadar seaport to speed up fisheries exports from the port, a minister said on Wednesday.
“Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) will set up its regional office and laboratory in Gwadar to facilitate local fishermen,” said Kamran
Michael, minister for ports and shipping, during a visit to the Karachi Fish Harbour.
“The government has already approved Rs45 million for this,” Michael said. “The construction work will begin in July.”
The minister said the facility will give local fishermen an opportunity to get their exportable certified in Gwadar.
He said the government is working to uplift the fishing community and focusing to facilitate the fishermen at all front.
On a question on European Union’s ban on fish products from Pakistan, MFD chairman Shaukat Hussain said the names of five more companies have been sent to EU for the approval.
It is expected that the ban on them will be lifted as these companies are meeting the international standards.
Hussain said after the approval the number of exporting companies to EU will reach seven.
The federal government is also working with the Sindh government to address all the issues facing fishermen and the fisheries sector.
He said this is one of the important sectors of the economy and all of its problems need to be resolved and fisheries exports need to be increased.
Minister Michael warned of actions against banned trawlers.
“We will ensure that the use of banned nets and trawlers should be stopped. Those involved in violation of the laws should be apprehended and the punishment and penalties be revised,” he said.
“The federal government is working to tackle all the mafias active in the fisheries sector, which is negatively affecting the sector and provincial and federal revenues.”
The minister said no one will be allowed to go for fishing in the banned season.
He advised that the provincial government should ensure that the ban is not lifted under any pressure as it is important to preserve the fishing hatcheries because fishing in banned season and using banned nets is destroying the marine life and marine resources are depleting.
“We are ready to come up with other alternatives for the fishermen during the banned season and will support any alternatives for the fishermen during the banned season,” he said.