960417

_Efforts on to

ease congestion

at Karachi

fish harbour

KARACHI: Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) is making hectic efforts to lure fishermen, mole holders and fish exporters, to ship to the newly-built Korangi Fish Harbour.

Since the beginning of this month, EPB authorities have held three lengthy meetings with representatives of sea food processors and exporters, fishing boats and trawler operators and mole holders to convince them to shift their business to Korangi harbour.

EPB Vice Chairman, Abu Shamim Arif while presiding over a similar meeting held here on Tuesday assured Bureau's full assistance and cooperation to the entrepreneurs engaged in fish industry.

According to EPB officials, he informed the meeting that an inspection team of European Union may visit Karachi fisheries in June this year.

Fish exports to European countries and USA could be suspended if current sanitary and unhygienic conditions continued to prevail at Karachi Fish Harbour and Ibrahim Hyderi jetty, he apprehended.

In order to prevent any discontinuation of fish exports, he emphasized the need for maintenance and improvement in hygienic conditions at Karachi Harbour and suggested that half of the fishermen shift to Korangi Harbour, which accommodates all modern facilities according to the international standards.

Iqbal Turk, Managing Director of Korangi Fish Harbour Authority, said that the harbour, built at the cost of Rs. 1 billion was ready for operation. Shifting to Korangi Harbour will reduce congestion at Karachi Fish Harbour which was handling 3,000 fishing boats, beyond its capacity of only 1,000 boats, he added.

He suggested that no more boat clearances may be allowed from Karachi Fish Harbour.

SSP and ADM, District Malir, who are also present in the meeting, assured necessary protection to the fishermen shifted there by deploying suitable strength of police, mobile units and check posts.

The participants of the meeting later visited the Korangi Harbour.

Another meeting in this connection will be held on April 22 to ascertain the number of mole holders, fishermen, boat owners deciding to shift from Karachi Harbour to Korangi Fish Harbour.-PPI