Provincial Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Muhammad Ali Malkani, expressed optimism on Wednesday that the ban on Pakistan’s fish exports will be lifted following the upcoming visit of the European Union delegation. This resumption is expected to significantly boost the country’s foreign exchange earnings [1]. The Minister shared these views while chairing a joint meeting of the Fisheries Harbour Authority and the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) at his office.
The meeting was convened to review arrangements for the EU delegation’s visit, during which inspectors will inspect various sections of the Karachi Fisheries Harbour and the FCS. The delegation will assess whether the infrastructure and processing upgrades comply with the prescribed EU guidelines. Following a satisfactory evaluation of these preparations, the European Union is expected to officially grant Pakistan permission to resume fish exports in its final report. The high-level meeting was attended by Sindh Provincial Secretary for Livestock and Fisheries Dr. Kazam Husain Jatoi, Chairperson of the Fishermen Cooperative Society Fatima Majeed, Managing Director of the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority Zahid Hussain Khemtio, DS Staff Muhammad Imran, and other senior officials.
During the session, participants conducted a detailed review of all operational arrangements prior to the delegation’s arrival. FCS Chairperson Fatima Majeed also expressed strong hope that the long-standing restrictions on Pakistani seafood exports would soon be resolved. Provincial Minister Muhammad Ali Malkani reiterated the government’s commitment, stating that every possible effort is being made to ensure compliance and lift the joint restrictions. He emphasized that the issue directly impacts the national economy, and teams are working round the clock to achieve this milestone.