The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) vowed on Saturday to guard the rights of indigenous fishermen and resist any construction on the islands off Karachi's shores.
They made the pledge on World Fisheries Day, observed on November 21 every year, during an event held in Ibrahim Hyderi.
Speaking on the occasion, PFF chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah held firm that any decision against indigenous fisherfolk would not be tolerated.
"Around three million fishermen in Sindh and Balochistan depend on marine fishing, mostly in creeks, and the government's decision to construct cities on [Dingi and Bhandar] islands will block their path to fishing sites, depriving them of livelihood," Shah said. He further stated that the PFF was registering its protest against the decision this World Fisheries Day, as islands were places for fishing and home to mangrove forests.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Mahmood Alam Jamot lamented that along Sindh’s coast, 2.5 million fishermen, who directly or indirectly depended on marine and freshwater fisheries, were living in poverty.
Later, participants put forth their demands, foremost of which was acknowledging that the islands belonged to the fishermen of Sindh and Balochistan. They demanded that no construction should be carried out on Dingi and Bhandar islands and the controversial islands ordinance be withdrawn.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2020.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ