KARACHI, Oct 13: Undue delay in the implementation of the master plan of the Karachi Fish Harbour is a constant source of concern for stakeholders because it is causing delay to the proposed visit of a European Union inspection team.

The board of directors of the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority is expected to meet on Oct 19 to discuss the implementation of the harbour's modernisation plan.

It is pertinent to note that a ban was imposed by EU countries on the import of Pakistani seafood because of insanitary conditions at the fish harbour and certain conditions were laid to bring about an improvement in the working of the fish harbour.

Consequently, a master plan was prepared and approved by the board of directors of the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA) for the harbour's modernisation which will cost Rs2.5 billion.

In Aug 2009, an important meeting of the board was held in which a resolution was adopted seeking funds from the Sindh government to initiate the harbour's rehabilitation work.

The meeting also decided to approach the federal government to allot 50 acres of a KPT plot to the authority for the expansion of the harbour.

It urged the federal government to get done the dredging of the fish harbour's channel.

The NESPAK, a private consultant firm assigned to design the harbour's master plan gave a final presentation about the plan during the meeting.

However, the time period for accomplishing the plan was not set.

Presently, the status quo perturbed the stakeholders because the harbour's modernisation plan would boost the country's seafood exports and it would also increase seafood exports to European countries.

The master plan includes projects like the establishment of a new seafood auction hall, a new jetty, an office building for KFHA, roads, installation of air-conditions at auction halls, setting up of a fire fighting system, repair and maintenance of existing installations, etc.

The proposed road map to modernise a fleet of fishing boats and upgrade of the seafood auction halls in line with the global standards was also presented in the meeting.

Three important issues at the harbour, which include the auctioning system and tidiness in the halls, modernisation of boats and shrimp peeling were also discussed.