KARACHI, March 15: A three-member mission from Japan visited the Karachi Fish Harbour on Monday to identify development projects in the light of requirements of the harbour.

The purpose of the mission, which reresents the Overseas Fisheries Consultant Association, Ministry of Fisheries, Japan, is to identify projects related to fisheries sector to be funded by the Japanese government.

The mission head, Mr Konishi, at a meeting with Sindh Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sardar Manzoor Ali Khan Panwar, said he would submit the report of his visit to the relevant authorities within two weeks.

Mr Panwar, who is also the chairman of the Fishermen Cooperative Society briefed the delegation about the efforts made by the society for the uplift of fishermen.

The minister told the delegation that local fishermen were poor because they were still using conventional methods of fishing, and the country was in need of aid and technical sport from the friendly countries like Japan for development of fisheries sector.

He identified some of the projects where Japanese financial assistance was needed, which were modern net-making, construction of a shrimppeeling complex and flake-ice plant, besides a desalination plant.

He also informed the delegation that the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority, responsible for the operation and maintenance of the harbour, was controlled by the Sindh government, while the Fishermen Cooperative Society, which was responsible for the welfare of fishermen, was a non-government organization. Earlier, the delegation attended a briefing regarding the KFHA development activities.