MINISTER FOR PORTS & SHIPPING SENATOR KAMRAN MICHAEL HIGHLIGHTED THAT FIBRE BOATS FOR FISHERMEN ON INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS BE IMPORTED

The Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Senator Kamran Michael outlined to provided 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to US and EU markets which were banned at the time when he took up the charge and said that now the ban has been repealed and Pakistani fish products can gain access to these markets.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.