Harbour security: Boat registration to be made mandatory

Officials discuss security of civil and military installations in the vicinity of Karachi Fish Harbour.

KARACHI:

The Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA) has announced that only registered boats will be allowed to operate at the harbour.

The last date to register is July 31 after which no boat will be allowed to operate. This was decided in a meeting on Saturday to review the security of installations at the Karachi Fish Harbour.

Sindh Minister for Fisheries Zahid Ali Bhurgri, who presided over the meeting, underlined the need to increase security because vital military and civil installations are located in the vicinity of the harbour.

It was felt that all small boats should be registered with the KFHA so that there is a complete record. The watchmen of the boats would also be registered.

The KFHA will request the Naval headquarters to deploy the Marines to control the entry and exit gates of the harbour. Pickets will also be set up in the Kala Pani area with the help of the Rangers.

The navy will be responsible for establishing pickets in the water to check all types of outgoing and incoming boats. A representative of the navy said that intelligence gathering at the harbour will be increased. Next, all harbour users will be registered and allowed entry based on a permit issued by the KFHA. The navy would propose raising the boundary wall and adding a security system that Sindh will be asked to pay for.

The meeting was attended by the managing director of the KFHA, Ghulam Ali Leghari, Cdr. Mohsin Farooq of the Pakistan Navy, Lt Cdr. Nouman of the Maritime Security Agency, KFHA office bearers and representatives of the Fishermen’s Cooperative Society and Trawler Owners’ Association.





Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2011.