KARACHI, July 12: A European Union delegation arrives here on Saturday to review the progress of work on the government’s action plan for improvement in conditions at the Karachi Fish Harbour.

This was stated at a meeting of the Fishermen Cooperative Society held here on Wednesday. Adviser to the Chief Minister on Fisheries Fakir Jadam Mangrio presided over the meeting which was attended by V ice-Chairman Haji Ali Mohammad and directors of the FCS, besides officers, union leaders and mole-holders.

The EU delegation will first visit Islamabad and hold talks with officials of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. On July 18, it would visit various pharmaceutical factories and the fish harbour in Karachi.

The EU team will inspect the auction hall, jetty and processing factories at the harbour to ensure that Pakistan is doing enough to export quality seafood to European countries.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Mangrio said that all the arrangements had been finalised in connection with the visit.

He said that sanitary conditions at the harbour had been improved in accordance with international standards and the work to upgrade and renovate the new auction hall under the Rs30 million K-2 project had been started. The project will be completed by August 15.

The project is being executed in accordance with the specifications defined by United Nations Industrial Development Organisation experts, who are also consultants for the K-2 project.

About boat modification, Mr Mangrio said that no boat-owner had approached him for seeking a loan. However, he added, if they approached him, the required loan on a concession basis could be extended to them.

He also held out the assurance that the government would soon announce a date for the start of construction work on a jetty for small boats.

The meeting was told that about 200 boats and 1,500 long-voyage (6-day or more) fishing launches meeting the EU standards had been modified. This would increase Pakistan’s exports to EU in particular and other countries in general.The meeting also decided to recover an amount of Rs120 million outstanding against mole-holders. It constituted a committee headed by the FCS vice-chairman for the purpose.

Mr Mangrio approved disbursement of a bonus for FCS employees and urged them to work hard to increase the Society’s earnings.

Later, he inspected the mechanised sweepers brought in for cleaning work at the harbour.—APP