KARACHI - Hundreds of small fishing boats manufactured by the government are deteriorating as they have not yet been handed over to the fishermen at Khenger Lake, The Nation learnt on Tuesday. The fishermen community is anxious over the negligence and lethargy of the government, and the authorities concerned regarding are turning blind eyes over the prolong matters of handing over the boats to the fishers. Approximately, one hundred and fifty small boats have been handed over to the local fishermen so far, while two hundred boats are still anchored in the water of Khenjor Lake, those manufactured by the government. The fishermen have expressed their dissatisfaction over the distribution of small boats by saying that higher officials have bestowed their favourite people where as the actual deserved have been fully deprived of them. In the last year, Zahid Ali Bhurgari Sindh Minister for Fisheries had announced that the inspection team of European Union (EU) would be invited for examination of the boats after achieving the targets of modification of at least 200 boats. Earlier, the federal government directed the KFHA to achieve the target of modifying 200 fishing boats by the end of 2008, but despite passing of one year, the matter is still neglected. The Minister had admitted that as many as 216 boats have been modified so far, including 11 large size boats, 35 medium size boats and 170 small size boats. Moreover, the work process for more 12 large boats would be started shortly. The EU would be requested for lifting up ban on export of Pakistan s seafood, but so far no initiative has been take in this regard. It is worthy of mention that in early 2007, the European Union had imposed ban on seafood export from Pakistan, forcing the previous government to ask Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF) to intervene. Technically, the European Union did not ban import of fish and their products from Pakistan, but it forwarded its reservations over seafood processors. Due to this action, the approved companies could not export their products to the EU. To meet the EU conditions, upgrading the Karachi Fish Harbour (KFH), renovation of auction halls and modification of boats are taking place. Moreover, the CSF has also prepared a master plan for the KFH, including a roadmap. The plan also included the provision of a shrimp-peeling unit. Moreover, outsourcing the entry gates to the KFH. The spillway operation had been leased out that has reduced congestion. Interestingly, the scheme to modify and manufacture the fishing boats were introduced by the previous government, while the amount was also allocated by them. But the present provincial government claimed to have initiated this scheme. In this connection, the previous government had allocated about Rs 20 million, while the current government has not issued further fund in this regard.