November 29, 2007	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 18, 1428

KARACHI, Nov 28: Pakistan is feared to lose up to $100 million in its seafood exports during the current fiscal year following a ban by the EU coupled with reduced prices being offered by other countries.

Pakistan fetched $45-50 million from the seafood export to the European markets in previous years.

However, after the ban imposed by the EU in April this year exporters had been facing problems in diverting EU destined shipments to other countries because of lower prices.

According to exporters the cumulative loss both in exports to the EU and other countries during July-Nov 2007 was $50 million and it would escalate to nearly $100 million by end of the current fiscal if exports to EU countries remain suspended.

The country had fetched $188 million from seafood exports in 2006-07, including exports to European countries.

A number of meetings between the fish exporters, Minfal officials, launch owners and the Sindh government officials have been held since April 12 ban but no serious efforts were made both at the federal and provincial levels to take immediate measures for restoring exports to the EU countries.

According to President Pakistan Seafood Industries Association (PSIA) Sardar Mohammad Hanif Khan the Minfal high official came up with an idea in Tuesday meeting in Karachi to allow only two to three processing units to export shrimps and other products the EU countries.

He said he had rejected the proposal before seeking clearance from more than 11 units.

He said he had again asked the Additional Secretary Minfal Mohammad Salim Khan to first concentrate on preliminary issues like modifying boats as per the EU standards and removing deficiencies in the auction halls as pointed out by the EU.

After checking early stages, the Minfal should give 10 days notice to the processing units (exporters) for final inspection, he said.

He said Pakistan was suffering on EU exports because of the non-technical staff at the Marine Fisheries Department (MFD), who do not have the technical know-how about the fish trade and exports.

The fish industry will continue to face problems unless the setup of the MFD is changed, he added.

Mr Hanif said that there had been very slow progress on upgrading of boats and meeting the EU standards on auction halls.

He said that the Sindh government informed the Minfal that it had provided Rs290 million for purchase of various equipment for fishing boats modification.

The provincial government will also bear 50 per cent expenses on upgrading of fishing trawlers.