TİKA Shares Turkey’s Fishing Experience with Pakistan

Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa State have been informed about Turkey’s fishing experience during their visit with the support of Turkish Coordination and Cooperation Agency (TİKA).

The delegation consisted of high-ranking bureaucrats including the Special Assistant to the Chief Minister and the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa State Mohibullah Khan, Director General of Livestock and Dairy Development Muhammad Sher, Director of Fisheries Muhammad Diyar, Consultant to the Director of Fisheries Muhammad Arshad Aziz and Fisheries and Peshawar Cooperatives Department Division Responsible Ahmad Mir.

The delegation first visited TİKA and was met by Vice President, Prof. Dr. Birol Çetin as well as the Head of the Department of East and South Asia, Pacific and Latin America Dr. Rahman Nurdun. During the meeting, Mohibullah Khan stated that is an honor to be in Turkey and mentioned that Turkish people are considered as “cousins” in their region. Minister Khan expressed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa State is one of the rare regions in Pakistan that has a suitable climate for fishing and although there are various production facilities available, the main problem is the waste resulting from issues relating to storage and processing. Khan says they also do not have the “cage system” which has resulted in significant increase in the fishing production of Turkey. Khan expressed their wishes of implementing a similar model using Turkey’s experience on fishing.

Prof. Dr. Birol Çetin has remarked that Pakistan has a very special place in the eyes of the Turkish people and Turkey, also stating that they are open for cooperation both in terms of sharing the experience about fishing and support through technical infrastructure. Dr. Rahman Nurdun stated that the necessary support could be provided through the cooperation of the relevant organizations.

After their visit to TİKA, the delegation moved on to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock of the Republic of Turkey at which they gave a presentation about the current situation of fishing in Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in particular. The Directorate General of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock also briefed the delegation about the progress that our country has made within the fishing industry in recent years in addition to the current state of the sector in Turkey.  After that by visiting Fethiye and Bodrum, the delegation had the opportunity to observe the aquaculture facilities of both the salt and fresh water. The final leg of the delegation’s tour in Turkey included a cultural program in Istanbul before they returned home.