KARACHI, Oct 7: The Marine Fisheries Department suspended the use of auction hall ‘K-1’ for handling, auction, storage of seafood meant for export to the European Union on the grounds of sanitation, fisheries sources said on Saturday.

They said the decision, which was taken this Monday, would render thousands of people related to fisheries sector jobless.

However, MFD DG Commodore (rtd) Syed Qamar Raza said that the FCS failed to maintain hygienic condition at K-1, despite repeated requests and warnings.

He said, “I have been asking them for the last several years to maintain sanitation at the auction as instructed by the EU inspectors. FCS people had given me undertaking in September after my inspection that they would maintain the required hygienic condition, but failed. On Oct 2, the sanitary condition at the hall was not satisfactory and therefore the MFD issued suspension orders,” he said.

Calling it unwarranted, FCS vigilance committee convener Ahmed Zamir Khan wrote a letter to the MFD director-general on Oct 5 urging him to withdraw the decision.

Terming this decision against the interest of fisheries sector as well as poor fishermen, he said that this decision was taken without consultation of all stakeholders.

Ahmed Zamir said that all the allegations levelled against the FCS were false and baseless and should be withdrawn immediately.—APP