A number of Pakistani companies have been facing a temporary ban on exports of fish and fish preparations to China since January after the detection of coronavirus in their shipments.
around 50 companies have been exporting fish to China. Out of the top 15 exporters, some nine firms are now temporarily banned by the Chinese authorities.
Giving details of the ban, in case the coronavirus is detected in one shipment, the exporter faces a one-week ban and in case of four cases, then the exporter cannot send the shipment for eight weeks.
Pakistan’s seafood exports have since been in crisis as 60 per cent out of the country’s total fish exports are destined for China.
Coronavirus had been detected in outer cartons and the Chinese authorities instead of destroying the infected consignment or sending it into quarantine for 15 days had suspended the shipping company.
“The rejected consignments then arrived back in Pakistan and exporters are facing Rs2 million per container as demurrage and detention and taxes”.
