KARACHI, July 31: So far 15,500 fishermen have been trained under a training programme which was started in April 2000 to educate the fishermen about modern methods of fishing.
This was stated during a briefing arranged for a visiting six-member delegation of Command and Staff College, Quetta, at Karachi Fish Harbour by the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA) and Fishermen Cooperative Society on Wednesday.
Headed by Captain Azhar PN, the delegation was on an inland study tour of coastal areas and Karachi.
At the outset, Cdr Mohammad Aslam, Manager Audit, briefed the delegation about the role of the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority and the Fishermen Cooperative Society in the development of harbour and welfare of fishermen community.
He highlighted the improvements brought during the last three years, which included implementation of Turtle Excluder Devise (TED) on boats, a pre-requisite of US Government for export of Pakistani seafood and establishment of peeling sheds at the Harbour.
He said computerised cards had been issued for harbour users and effective measures had been taken to control over auction system etc.
He said hygienic conditions had been maintained at the auction halls as these were washed regularly after auction is over.
He said because of improved conditions at the harbour, export of Pakistani seafood stood at US $125.554 during last fiscal.
In addition, under the enhanced Group Insurance Scheme, he said, seven families of deceased fishermen had been paid Rs. 200,000 each as death compensation.
On this occasion, the Chairman, KFHA and FCS Syed Tayyab Naqvi informed the delegation about commercial activities during the last three years.
This included the auctioning of cycle stand and toilet blocks against the bid of Rs.3.4 million and Rs.1.7 million respectively for two years.
According to him, rights for charging gate entry fee at Karachi Fish Harbour were also being auctioned by the KFHA while auction of slipway was also under consideration, which would further increase the KFHA’s income.
He said that from Sept 1, use of wicker baskets would be prohibited in both auction halls while plastic crates would be made mandatory for handling the fish catch.
Crests of KFHA and FCS and Command and Staff College, Quetta were exchanged on the occasion.
