KARACHI, July 24: Speakers at a seminar on fisheries development stressed the need for streamlining the fisheries sector on modern lines by employing sophisticated machinery and latest technology to enable the country to compete in the international market.
The seminar on “Potential and Prospects of Fisheries Development in Sindh and Balochistan” was organised by the University of Karachi at its campus on Thursday in collaboration with the provincial fisheries department and the Fisheries Development Board (FDB). Balochistan Minister for Fisheries Hamal Kalmati was the chief guest.
KU Vice-Chancellor Prof Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui presided over the inaugural session.
The speakers said that the fisheries sector contributed greatly to the national economy and, therefore, it was imperative to transform it into a strong and viable industry by employing scientific management to run its affairs.
This would not only help increase foreign exchange through seafood exports, but would also help create ample employment opportunities for local people.
“We should benefit from the experiences of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh and Thailand which have successfully developed their fisheries industries,” they suggested.
Balochistan Minister for Fisheries Hamal Kalmati told the audience that the federal government, in collaboration with the Balochistan government, was introducing modern technology in the fisheries industry and setting up a fish farming project in Gwadar.
He expressed his confidence that the measures being taken jointly be the federal and provincial authorities would enable the country to export seafood products from the port soon.
Prof Siddiqui said that the University of Karachi had the potential to provide the required assistance for the setting up of a modern fisheries research institute.
Dean of the Faculty of Science Prof Shahana Urooj Kazmi also spoke at the seminar.—APP
Deep-sea fishing
Administrator of the Fishermen’s Cooperative Society (FCS) Mohammad Jaffer Khawaja has described deep-sea fishing by foreign trawlers in Pakistani territorial waters as detrimental to the interests of the local fishermen, and said that the operation of these vessels, known as ‘factory trawlers’, had been causing depletion of marine resources for years, our staff reporter adds.
Mr Khawaja, was speaking at a free medical camp set up for fishermen community at Keti Bandar. It was inaugurated by Sindh Minister for Cooperatives Abdul Jaleel Memon.
The FCS administrator said that the provincial government had approached the federal authorities with a proposal to withdraw the provision in the fisheries policy that allowed deep-sea fishing by trawlers. The aim, he said, was to safeguard the local fishermen’s livelihood and protect the country’s marine resources.
He said the government was taking effective measures for the lifting of a European Union ban on the import of Pakistani seafood products. He expressed the hope that the ban would soon be removed.
Mr Khawaja slammed the previous government for not taking the issue seriously, saying that its indifferent attitude had caused great harm to the fisheries industry.
The administrator pointed out that the present government had undertaken to increase the seafood exports by 35 per cent next year. “For the purpose, we have hired services of experts to chalk out a plan to give a boost to the fish and shrimp exports.
He said the government was committed to extending full cooperation to fishermen community in this regard and providing basic facilities to improve their quality of life.
He said the seafood exports had registered $200 million mark during 2007-08 despite the fact that the EU ban remained in place.
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