KARACHI, Aug 27: A delegation of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) on Tuesday visited the marine fisheries department, the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, at the Karachi Fish Harbour in connection with a second part of their Trade Related Technical Assistance Programme (TRTA).

The first part of this European Union-funded TRTA was held between 2004 and 2010. According to Marine Fisheries Director General Shaukat Hussain, the first part of the programme involved trade issues, technical assistance to the marine fisheries department and the Sindh Fish Harbour Authority for the monitoring and certification of fish exports.

“The first part also saw the foreign experts working with the Fishermen Cooperative Society and Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) laboratories that come under the Federal Government’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

“Under the programme, the microbiology and chemical labs were given accreditation under ISO/IEC-17025 international standards so that tests run by them and the test reports are accepted all over the world. Meanwhile, the PCSIR labs were also provided with technical assistance and accreditation in testing for heavy metals, environmental contaminants like dioxin, lead, mercury, etc.

“TRTA-I also included renovation of the K-I and K-II auction halls at the Karachi Fish Harbour,” the DG provided, adding that the delegation flew down from Islamabad again for TRTA-II.

“They were here to survey the harbour and surrounding areas again to asses what impact the work carried out by them already has and how they can help in the future. They are looking to improve the entire fishing infrastructure here and bring the Karachi Fish Harbour in line with international standards. For this, they spoke to all the stakeholders at the harbour and even visited the Baba and Bhit islands to offer assistance to the fishermen community there,” Mr Hussain explained.