A Senate panel was informed on Monday that EU member countries while not allowing any fish import from Pakistan in the last three years, are insisting to visit Karachi’s Fishery and other related facilities before deciding to allow import from Pakistan. The Minister for Maritime Affairs, Ali Haider Zaidi, informed the Senate Standing Committee that “The EU insists on visiting Karachi’s Fishery whose hall is not in proper condition at the moment. An inspection right now can even result in complete ban on Pakistan’s fish products.”
In fact these are the poor conditions of the fishing boats, unhygienic conditions at the Karachi Fish Harbour, use of substandard nets and the alleged lack of international standards at the fish processing units that has since long been a major source of concern for not only member countries of the EU but also the United States of America.
Earlier in April 2007, the EU had placed a complete ban on the import of raw fish and any of its processed products to its member states from Pakistan. The ban continued for six years and was lifted in March 2013 after Pakistan had agreed to and implemented the conditions of EU.
Why Pakistan cannot improve the facilities for its own economic benefits? According to Zaidi, part of the problem lies in lack of coordination between the Centre and the province. But it doesn’t sound a convincing explanation. What the government must realise is that implementing the demands of EU will not only improve the imports but can help bring about a positive change in the lives of coastal communities, especially in Sindh.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 8th, 2019.
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