KARACHI, Feb 2: The caretake chief minister of Sindh, retired Justice Abdul Qadir Halepota, inaugurated an auction hall, built at a cost of Rs4.5 billion, at the Karachi Fish Harbour on Saturday morning.

The project is completed in consultation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) according to the requirements of the European Union. The Auction Hall K-II has been specially designed for the export of seafood to the EU which had certain reservations regarding onboard boat and marketing facilities at the harbour.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Mr Halepota expressed hope that the ban on the export of seafood to the EU would be lifted soon as a result of the continuous efforts being made to upgrade the harbour. He said that the ban on the seafood export had cast a negative impact on the country’s economy.

He was optimistic that seafood exports would rise from $200 million to $1 billion by adopting effective strategy coupled with the completion of other projects that had been initiated with the financial assistance of the federal government to improve working conditions at the harbour. He stressed the need for the harbour’s development on international standards to meet not only the requirements of EU countries, but also of the US and China.

Govt bears 75pc cost

The caretaker chief minister announced that the government would bear 75 per cent expenses of boat modification to allow fishermen onboard store and keep the fish catch fresh for a longer duration.

He said that boat modification, coupled with betterment of market facilities, would help improve the quality of seafood. This would cast a positive impact on the fishermen’s livelihood and the country’s economy, he said, adding that the boat owners were required to bear only 25 per cent of the modification expenses.

He called upon all stakeholders to play their due role in making the harbour a model with their collective efforts as it was the source of livelihood of fishermen community.

Earlier, Sindh Caretaker Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Mansab Ali Jakhrani called for joint efforts of the stakeholders of the fisheries sector to improve the working condition at the harbour.

Asking fishermen to shun traditional method of fishing, he counted the benefits of modern technology to clear misunderstandings associated with it. He said the government was fully aware of the fishermen’s problems and making all efforts to improve their quality of life. He urged fishermen to realise their responsibility to help maintain hygiene at the harbour.

2,000 acres for farming

Secretary Livestock and Fisheries Dr Mohammad Siddiq Memon said that the Sindh government would implement 16 schemes in the fisheries sector, costing Rs3,514 million with Rs600 million allocated in the current financial year.

Besides, he said that 2,000 acres had been reserved for shrimp and fish farming in the coastal areas of Thatta and Badin. The project would cost Rs2 billion, he added.

The development schemes included the construction of a jetty for small fishermen at the Karachi Fish Harbour with a cost of Rs22 million.

The secretary said that the government had abolished the contract system and issued 4,900 licences to fishermen. Several other projects were also being planned for the welfare of fishermen, he added.

In his welcome address, Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority Managing Director Shahid Gulzar talked about the activities and achievements of the authority in the fisheries sector and the role it played for the harbour’s development.

Fishermen Cooperative Society Administrator Tahir Mazhar Ali Dada urged all stakeholders to cooperate to steer out the fisheries sector from crisis.

Also present on the occasion were Sindh Caretaker Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development Nadira Punjwani, former FCS administrator Hamayun Khan, directors Haji Shafi Mohammad, Haji Mohammad Yunis, besides officials of the KFHA and the FCS.

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