Pakistan needs strong fishery industry: Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo

Islamabad: Italy’s Ambassador in Pakistan Stefano Pontecorvo has said Pakistan needs a strong fishery industry.

The envoy said a strong fishing industry would substitute imports, create wealth and jobs and bring in export dollars. “A win-win,” he added.

Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo said Pakistan’s fishing industry was undeniably underdeveloped. “In Islamabad we get prawns and squid from Thailand and Vietnam. Not from Karachi,” he pointed out. The envoy said most sea food should come from the port city as it has the potential.

Fishery as well as fishing industry plays a vital role in the economy. Pakistan has total coastline of 1,120 km covering Mekran (Balochistan) as well as the coast of Karachi (Sindh) and a total fishing area of approximately 300,270 sq. km.

These areas are highly rich in marine life with a vast variety of species. There are still marine fisheries resources remaining to be exploited and developed.

Fisheries sector offers a wide range of employment for the people living near coastal or marine areas.

Most of the population in these marine areas has developed fishing as a profession; such as seas, oceans, rivers, streams, estuaries near-shore, estuaries, mangroves, ponds, lakes and man-made reservoirs.

Marine fisheries in Pakistan is being carried out on two distinct grounds i.e. coastline covering Mekran (Balochistan) as well as the coast of Karachi.

Sindh and Balochistan coasts comprise of many widely dispersed, small landing places utilized by small craft equipped with sails and/or outboard engines.The marine fish are marketed as fresh, freezing, canning for local consumption.

Karachi and Mekran being the most important fishing ports are being developed by the Government of Pakistan as a fishing centre.
Inland fisheries are getting much popularity. Some inland resources include small rivers, dams (Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma), lakes (Haleji, Keenjhar and Manchhar), barrages, reservoirs, ponds and canals.

The major marine harbors of Pakistan are:
Karachi Fish Harbor handles about 90% of fish and seafood catch in Pakistan and 95% of fish and seafood exports from Pakistan.

With concerted efforts along with proper incentives, the fisheries production is likely to increase, leading to its greater role in the national economy.