KARACHI, Oct 18: The Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) will be modifying around 200 large size boats to meet the European Union (EU) standards and specification by the end of this year.

The harbour will also be in a position to meet other EU conditions with regard to landing of fish from boats to auction halls and ensuring a temperature maintained throughout its transportation and handling.

The EU imposed ban on import of seafood from Pakistan early last year after its inspection team found some serious deficiencies related to poor hygienic conditions starting from the fishing stage to landing and then processing.

In order to remove these deficiencies, the KFHA with the assistance of Unido and Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) began to work in areas of marketing, boat modification and operation, handling of fish, and use of ancillary equipments.

Initially, the government approved a boat modification plan on 50:50 cost sharing basis with owners but this was rejected and after a long negotiations stretching over eight months it was finally agreed that the owners will pay only 25 per cent of the modification cost.

However, the boat owners were reluctant to modify their boats through KFHA approved contractors. They apprehended that their boats will be stuck up for a long period with these limited number of approved contractors and may also become a cause of corruption.

In a surprise development the issue of boat modification was resolved on Saturday during a visit of Sindh Minister for Fisheries Zahid Ali Bhurgari to the KHFA, who decided to remove the condition of modifying boats from the KHFA approved contractors only.

It was also decided that the boat owners should be given 50 per cent of the funds within three days on getting application and estimates for modification as per the EU standard.

The meeting was also attended by the managing director KFHA Aijaz Ahmed Mangi, director planning and development Shuneed Ahmed and Saghir Ahmed.

The boat owners’ application for modification will be forwarded to a committee, which will verify the document and clear it within three days along with release of funds so that work order could be issued.

The KFHA approved contractors and private contractor have been asked to issue one year warranty for the modification job so that durability and standard of work is ensured, sources said.

During the period of modification till its completion, the KFHA will retain boat owner’s KOLE registration certificate without which the boat could not be used for fishing. This will be used as security against funds released for modification, they added.

The KFHA has already issued tender for purchase of ice plants to be given initially, to 27 boats free of cost on first-come-first-served basis. This will ensure to maintain the required temperature throughout the period the catch remains on board and at the time of unloading.

Similarly, the KHFA has procured insulated plastic boxes, crates and pallets for small fishing boats, which do not have fish holds or tanks.

The auction area has been modified by fixing stainless steel lining on tables in auction hall-I and food grade paint on platforms in auction hall-II as prescribed by the Unido.

The KFHA is also purchasing equipments to help upgrade the harbour and make it compliant with the EU standards.