EQUPPED with state of the art processing and freezing plant, Seagreen Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd has emerged as a leading seafood exporter. The facility, located at the Karachi Fish Harbour, has a capacity to process 25,000kg of seafood per day.

The quality and standards of Seagreen’s products has attracted foreign buyers who were once sourcing their seafood imports from India and other regional countries.

Faced with the European Union’s ban on Pakistani seafood imports from 2007, the company diversified its foreign sales to the Middle East, Africa and Far East.

The EU’s ban proved to be a blessing in disguise as it gave an impetus to seafood exports to non-traditional markets and also helped Pakistani exporters meet world standards at their processing facilities.

Talking to this writer in his factory office, Seagreen Enterprise Managing Director Abrar Ahmed said in the mid-1960s, he had started his career as an accountant in a group of companies dealing in carpets, marble and fisheries. However, the group decided to wind up the business and moved to the United States.

After working for a few days with the new owner-management of one of these companies, he decided to do his own business. His first venture involved a partnership with a friend in textiles.

But he soon realised that his associate was not a business-minded person, and the set-up was wound up.

With experience in fisheries, Abrar started packaging seafood on a very small scale, from a rented premise comprising a single room. This provided him a foothold in the seafood business. After having sufficient funds, he purchased a company and a processing plant in 1980.

By 1983, Abrar had managed to set up Seagreen Enterprises. Besides working hard, he says, his company works only on one principle: “Reputation is more important than profit”. This helped. “We have never looked back and kept on moving forward.”

The company focuses equally on technology to improve the quality of its products to face the ever rising challenges in the global market. The factory is equipped with a modern European ‘quick frozen’ processing plant, which helps maintain the quality of the seafood.

Following vigorous geographical diversification, the country’s seafood exports have now touched $400m, against total exports of $135m in 2007, including $70m worth of sales to the EU before the ban was imposed

“Our processing equipment includes the latest individual quick freezing (IQF) plant. It is a specific solution to avoid cluster-freezing of small-sized products, preserve quality and provide convenience to the customers.”

The IQF technology, he says, is far superior to conventional processing in terms of quicker freezing, better flavour and shape-retention. This offers greater convenience to the consumers and adds value to the products.

The Arabian Sea is known for its wide variety of shrimps, prawn, fish and crab, which bring the finest seafood sought by connoisseurs around the globe. Seagreen’s major exports are shrimps, which are processed in three ways — whole (with head), headless, and with and without shells (i.e. fully pealed and only meat).

The processed seafood thereafter is passed through the IQF plant and finally packed in plastic bags of different weights as per the importer’s demand. The packed export orders are stored in cold storage at negative 18 degrees Celsius. The entire processing and packaging is carried out in a cool atmosphere to maintain the quality of the seafood.

The seafood shipments are made through reefer containers (attached with a/c units). Seagreen exports seafood to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

Karachi Fish Harbour: The Karachi Fish Harbour (KFH) is the main source of supply from where 80pc of the country’s seafood is exported by around 18 processing units, and the rest by an equal number of factories located outside the harbour.

The harbour is controlled by three agencies — Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA), Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) and the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS).

The KFHA works under provincial government and its job is to maintain and develop roads and other infrastructure, including sewerage, and ensure hygienic conditions by keeping the entire harbour neat and clean.

The FCS looks after the maintenance of the auction hall and its vicinity. It gets a 3pc share from mole-holders (commission agents), who charge 6pc on the auction of fish.

The rest of the amount is given to launch-owners on their catch.

Similarly, the MFD certifies the quality of the seafood for export by issuing certificates. It tests the samples in its lab to establish that a shipment is fit for human consumption.

Abrar said the KFHA has an important role to play in maintaining the hygienic conditions in the harbour, in collaboration with factory owners. However, to meet international standards, it should approach the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan for release of funds from the Export Development Fund (EDF) for upgradation and improvement of hygienic conditions in and around the fish harbour.

Following vigorous geographical diversification, the country’s seafood exports have now touched $400m, against total exports of $135m in 2007, including $70m worth of sales to the EU before the ban was imposed.

Abrar said seafood exporters use indigenous raw material (seafood) and they have never received any rebate or subsidy.

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, April 20th , 2015

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