March 29, 2007

EU sends advisors to help improve Pakistan's seafood quality

The EU is sending technical advisers to assist Pakistani fisheries' authorities in improving the quality of its seafood, after imposing a ban earlier this month.

A senior official said Pakistan has come up with a damage control programme, involving both federal and provincial institutions which would act on the deficiencies listed out by the EU. In turn, the EU's technical advisers would assist the country in improving quality in line with their requirement, said Dr Hayat Muhammad Khan, Federal Fisheries Commissioner.

There are also commitments from the federal and provincial governments to improve harbour conditions.

The meetings between federal and provincial authorities this month was part of the Prime Minister's directives, who visited Karachi earlier this month and urged serious efforts to improve seafood quality after the ban.

The federal government offered Rs20 million (US$330,000) before the EU visit to upgrade the harbour, but it is too early to estimate the cost of such projects, Khan said.

The EU banned seafood exports from Pakistan this month after a February inspection of its harbour and processing facilities, affecting some US$80 million worth of trade. The EU is a major importer of Pakistan's seafood and buys nearly all its shrimps.