Raza Khan

Improved processing and value-addition helped enhancethe export of fishery products during the last fiscal year 2022-23, reports WealthPK. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), exports of fish and fish-preparations totalled$496.32 million during the last Fiscal Year 2022-23 as compared to $430.89 million in FY2021-22, with an addition of 15.18%. Mian Saeed Fareed, Vice Chairman of Pakistan Fisheries Exporter Association (PAKFEA), told WealthPK thatimprovement and investment in fish processing units and value-addition was key to gradually enhancing exports during the last three years. “Training of manpower in aquaculture, value-addition, and quality control are the key components the government should focus on,” he said. “Upgradation of hygiene controls in the fish value chain, restriction on fishing to control exhaustion of stocks and constant revision of chilling and processing units can further boost the exports,” he added.

Fareed said there were about 30 fish processing units in Pakistan with storage capacity of 10,000 tons out of which 25 were located in Karachi. Fish and fishery products are processed and exported to over 50 countries, Fareed said, adding that about 30% of the fish and fishery products were exported to the European Union countries. “Japan, USA, China, Saudi Arabia, UAE Malaysia, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Singapore are other major importing countries,” the PAKFEA’s vice chairman said. He said China unbanned jellyfish imports from Pakistan last year,whichalso helpedenhanceexports. “The export of our fishery productsheavily relies on China, which imports almost half of the country’s total products,” Fareed told WealthPK. He was of the view that the fish export industry should diversify its exports, search for new markets and also enhance the export of value-added products. He said the government hadprovided research and technical assistance to the seafood establishments for improving their processing conditions in line with various EU and other international standards.

“Through this process, eight establishments have already improved their conditions and they have been allowed to export seafood to the European Union countries,” Fareed said. In addition, five more plants have undergone upgradation, while the others are also upgrading their facilities to comply with the international standards, he added. Fareed said theKarachi harbour was handling about 90% of fish and seafood catch in Pakistan and 95% of fish and seafood exports. He said some species like squids, cuttlefish and ribbon fish had fetched better prices in the world markets. “About 3,000 tonnes of jellyfish were exported last year,” he added. Stingrays are dried and used in fish meal production and about 10,000 tonnes of the fish are exported to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, Fareed said. He said the Pakistani exporters had adjusted their marketing strategy to new markets and products to improve exports amid some barriers.

Credit: INP-WealthPk