KARACHI, Nov 16: The Federal Minister of Food, Livestock and Agriculture, Khair Mohammed Junejo, said here on Friday the government was considering extending the Exclusive Economic Zone limits for the local fishermen from 12 to 20 nautical miles besides measures to protect their interests.
Talking to newsmen after performing the foundationstone-laying ceremony of the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Expansion Project, he said the option of handing over the Korangi Fish Harbour (KFH) to the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority remained open as the government was prepared to consider the matter.
Answering a question, he said the federal government had asked the Sindh government to improve infrastructure facilities such as water, power and roads for the KFH.
Under the new fishing policy, medium-sized fishing vessels ranging from 100 to 250 tons had been allowed to operate between the 12-35 nautical miles limit, he said adding that so far no licences had been issued for new trawlers.
About the incapacity of the local fishermen to move further deep into the sea for better fish yield, he attributed the reason to small size of their fishing boats.
In view of this problem the government had decided to exempt those fishermen who had the wherewithal to operate up to 35 nautical miles from obtaining licence, he added.
He assured that the local fishermen would be allowed to operate up to 20 nautical miles and, in this connection, hindrances would be removed.
Earlier, the minister laid the foundation-stone of the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Expansion Project. The project, costing Rs160.1 million, is expected to be completed by February 2003.
The government of China will provide assistance for the project aimed at checking the spread of dangerous pests, diseases and weed through imports and exports in accordance with the requirements of the WTO agreement. The project will be undertaken by China’s Guang Don International Cooperation.
Mr Junejo said Pakistan had standard to ensure pest-free, hygiene and purity of agriculture produce for the local market and export. These were being upgraded according to the WTO-SPS Agreement on the application of phytosanitary measures and other international norms, he said.
He said the project would cater to the needs of the present time when trade discipline, especially freedom from pest, suitable treatment, storage, packaging and transport, had to be given due consideration and the phytosanitary requirement of trading partners had to be fulfilled. “The project will enhance the capacity of the plant quarantine division, which is the regulatory arm of the department of plant protection,” he hoped.
He said the agricultural trade was predominantly in the private sector and export subsidy had been totally abolished in case of cotton and rice.
He said issue that had emerged in the post WTO era in the trade of plants, plant products and seeds were quarantine pests, pesticide residue, aflatoxin, heavy metals, produce tractability radioactivity, food additives, sanitation from farm to consumer’s plate and packaging. Many trading partners owing to their greater economic power had set higher SPS standards ranging from information requirement to import bans, he added.
Underlining the need to adopt the international standards of phytosanitary measures, the minister said it was only possible through an appropriate legal framework and strong quarantine organization. “Our country needs a quarantine setup that can demonstrate its capability to check pest spread and facilitate trade. Building up the requisite organ is capital-intensive and we are lucky to have assistance in this enterprise from China.”
He spoke about the historic friendship between the two countries, and said there was an identity of views on issues and problems between the two.
Lu Shulin, the Ambassador of China to Pakistan, said both countries were celebrating 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations. “In 50 years, after the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have always stood together through thick and thin and share weal and woe,” he observed.
He recalled Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongi’s visit to Pakistan as part of the golden jubilee celebrations and said soon General Pervez Musharraf would pay an official visit to China. This visit would bring the celebration activities to a grand finale and further strengthen the all-weather friendly relations between the two countries, he hoped.
Speaking about the support given by the Pakistani people when China was in difficulties, he said: “We are grateful to Pakistan for its steadfast support on a series of issues concerning China’s sovereignty such as Taiwan and Tibet and human rights.”
He was of the view that by undertaking such projects economic cooperation between the two countries could be further strengthened.—PPI
