The Federal Minister for Ports and
Shipping Senator Kamran Michael outlined to provide complete support and
assistance to the fisheries and highlighted to import fibre boats from Holland which will have complete navigational systems
which will guide and stop the fishermen from crossing sea boundaries of Pakistan.
He was addressing at a World Fisheries Day seminar in a local hotel which was
attended provincial minister for fisheries, Chief Minister Balochistan,
Fisheries Cooperative Society, Karachi Fisheries, Korangi Fisheries and other
stakeholders.
The Minister Kamran Michael stressed
on the need for the uplift of fisheries sector. In this regard he said that he
has taken up the matter of fish exports to US and EU markets which were banned
at the time when he took up the charge and said that now the ban has been
repealed and Pakistani fish products can gain access to these markets. He said
that he invited authorities and training centres from Holland
for the training of our fishermen in Gwadar area to become aware of the
methodology of making quality catch. He further said that the fishermen remain
in deep sea for many days even for a month and had to store fish on boats and
sometimes their catch does not meet international standards which have to cater
for. Infrastructure and accessories are made at Gwadar on international
standards scale for the uplift of fish exports as Tuna, Tiger Prawns, Lobsters,
etc have a very good market in European Union but they do not reach there due
to falling short of standards. He said that the government will purchase the
fish catch from fishermen at a reasonable cost for processing fish products for
exports to various countries.
The Minister ensured the fisheries
representatives that due support will be provided to fisheries sector. Mr.
Kamran Michael also said that Pakistani fish was getting smuggled to Afghanistan from Khyber Pukhtoon Khwah which is being
stopped while taking due measures and through implementation of new policies to
foster strength to the fish exports of Pakistan.
He said that a Marine Centre was established at Peshawar
to keep check on proper exports. He spoke about the need to have good policies
for betterment of fisheries sector of Pakistan
and offered his support. He also welcomed the works of UNDP and WWF programmes
in the area of fisheries.
The Minister for Ports and Shipping
Senator Kamran Michael was presented a souvenir of Sindhi Ajrak and Topi which
concluded the proceedings.
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