KARACHI, Jan 1: The country’s seafood exports registered a significant increase in 2008 despite a ban imposed by the European Union (EU) on the seafood imports from Pakistan.

This was stated by Federal Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development Hemayoon Aziz while speaking at a briefing on the fisheries sector at the Karachi Fish Harbour on Wednesday.

The minister said Pakistan earned $213 million from the export of seafood last year as against $188 million earned in the previous year while the EU ban remained in place.

He attributed the increase to the government’s efforts towards exploring alternative markets, pointing out that the major importers appeared to be Japan and Korea.

The minister, however, stressed the need for improving the standards of seafood products and their handling, as well as the conditions at the harbour, in order to get the EU ban lifted. He observed that although a remarkable improvement had been brought about, the efforts in this direction should be intensified to achieve the desired results.

Later, Mr Aziz, along with Fishermen Cooperative Society administrator and adviser Abuzar Mariwara, went round various sections of the harbour and discussed the matters relating to the fisheries sector with stakeholders.