Land grabbing in coastal belt stirs concerns

The National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) Secretary General Nasir Mansoor expressed concern over encroachments and land grabbing in the coastal areas of Balochistan, resulting in forced displacement of the Baloch fishermen.

“The land of local harbor is being handed over to unauthorized people creating issues for the local fishers of Damb Bunder, while certain officials are forcibly occupying local lands through creating fear and local fishermen are being forced to leave their ancestor fishing villages,” said Mansoor on Monday while addressing a Fisheries Convention held in Damb Bunder, an old fishing village and crucial jetty of Balochistan.

The NTUF Sindh President Rafiq Baloch presided over the event while the representatives of local fishermen attended the event.

Mansoor maintained the provincial government was silent over the issue and was not taking steps against the forced occupation of the Balochistan islands.

On the occasion, a local fisheries leader Wadera Yaqoob noted the issues faced by the locals of the coastal village, Damb Bunder.

“200 acres of land is earmarked for the housing projects of local fishermen but the land has not been yet allotted to them,” said Yaqoob, adding a political party was establishing its office on the government owned land.

Slamming the government, he further said more than 10,000 fishers of Damb Bunder were facing hunger and joblessness due to the absence of government policy regarding fisheries sector.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2021.