950804

EPB proposes reliefs

for coastal areas to

bolster fish industry

KHALID ABBAS SAIF

FAISALABAD: The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has proposed that the coastal areas should be treated as the developing industry of Pakistan and be accorded special concessions because of the region's great export potential.

In a study report on 'Fish and Fish Preparation', which was presented to the federal government, it has also been proposed that the government should put in place a set of incentives to induct latest technology and accelerate modernization of the fishing fleet and fish processing industry. At present, fishing is the main economic activity on the coastal belt of Sindh and Balochistan. Apart from marine fisheries, inland fisheries is also practised in rivers, lakes, dams, ponds etc.

According to a current survey, it contributes about four percent of agricultural product and about one percent of GDP and engages one percent of the current labour force. During 1994-95, about 561,930 metric tonnes of fish catch has been made as compared to 557,135 tonnes last year in the first nine months.

The Export Promotion Bureau has suggested that the government should positively encourage private entrepreneurs to enter into joint ventures with foreign enterprises for the induction of latest technology. The EPB observed that this industry merits all special concessions accorded to less developed areas, and even more, because of its tremendous export potential.

At present, in order to improve the fisheries sub-sector of Pakistan, a number of projects are under execution by fisheries organizations of Pakistan. Marine Fisheries Department, Karachi, provincial fisheries departments of Punjab, Sindh and NWFP have executed three major projects in this regards: 1) Fisheries Training Centre (ADB-financed), 2) Agriculture Development Project (ADB-financed) and 3) Karachi Fisheries Harbour.

The construction of the fish harbour at Pasni, Balochistan, is also according to EPB report. At present, production from fish farming comprises only five percent of inland fish production. The major reason for the low catch is that the present fleet of vessels consists of fishing craft of limited size and capacity. These are devoid of modern facilities of preserving the fish on board and hence confine their exploits within the territorial waters.

It was pointed out in the study report that there exists tremendous potential for expansion of the domestic market, which has hardly started to develop. Pakistan's per capita consumption of fish is 2.2 kg, as compared to 3.09 kg in Asia, with Japan having the highest consumption of 74.7 kg and India of 3.0 kg Pakistan is exporting 10 to 12 percent of total annual marine catch and a mere three percent of overall demersal and pelagic fish potential. The value of fish export in 1992-93 was $182 million.

EPB report disclosed that the fish exports remained stagnant during the period 1990 to 1992. It was observed in the EPB report that the poor export performance was partly due to lack of proper marketing efforts. EPB is encouraging fish exporters to attend different food exhibitions to introduce Pakistan's seafood in competitive international market.

The Bureau has strongly recommended that appropriate incentive package should be provided for exploitation of shrimp aqua-culture through setting up of shrimp farms, hatcheries and seed mills. The government should imposed ban during the crucial breeding season and regulate the number of travellers to prevent over-exploitation of this rich foreign exchange earner. "This industry merits all special concessions accorded to less developed areas and even more, because of its tremendous export potential," the report concluded.