KARACHI, March 16: The Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) is preparing to take effective measures to implement some of its major development schemes set aside due to financial constraints, it is learnt.
The Authority could not start work on the schemes, proposed in the budget 2003-04 owing to lingering dispute with the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) over recoveries on account of ground rent.
Fisheries sources indicated that the dispute had now been settled amicably under an agreement between the two sides paving the way for the KFHA to earn Rs10 million per annum as ground rent and the port-related facilities extended to the FCS.
Th earning would enable the KFHA to implement the development schemes without any hindrance. Talking to Dawn, KFHA Managing Director Dr Nawaz Baloch said: "As soon as we get the fund from the FCS, work on the upgrading of the harbour, as required by the European countries, would begin."
He said top priority would be given to the bringing about an improvement in market and jetties. The projects include construction of a Rs33 million shrimp-peeling complex which is strongly desired by the European Union, the largest market for Pakistani seafood exports which amounts to about 54 per cent of total exports.
The KFHA also plans to build a boatyard road, an operation room to monitor vessels' movement, and construction of cabins and markets for fish retailers and cutters.
The Authority generates an annual revenue of about Rs35.55 million under the heads of ground rent from various export-oriented processing units (Rs8 million), crew card (Rs5 million), gate entry fee (Rs4.2 million), fishing licence (Rs1.2 million) and rent from boat-building yard (Rs8 million).
However, the major land-holding and revenue generating sector is FCS which has now agreed to pay Rs10 million per year to the KFHA. The total area utilized by the FCS is about 24,000 square yards.
Dr Baloch said the KFHA had submitted a feasibility report for the proposed shrimp-peeling project to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) for funding. The EPB has expressed its willingness to cooperate with the Authority in this regard.
Meanwhile, Vice-chairman of the FCS Abuzar Mariwara has told Dawn that after the settlement between the two organizations, the Society would now put in all its efforts to the welfare of the fishermen community.
He thanked provincial Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sardar Manzoor Ali Panhwar, for taking personal interest in getting the dispute settled.