Fishermen put boats back to sea
Fishing boats seen anchored at the Karachi Fish Harbour following the ban imposed on coastal activities ahead of cyclonic storm Biparjoy over the Arabian Sea. PHOTO: JALAL QURESHI / EXPRESS
With the threat of Biparjoy Cyclone over, coastal areas have begun to resume their daily lives, with fishermen returning to their homes and engaging in fishing activities after repairing their damaged boats.
Due to the cyclone's threat, fishing activities had been halted for the past 12 days, resulting in unemployment among fishermen, Badin locals told The Express Tribune.
However, now that the storm has decimated over India, the local fishermen put their boats back to the sea. Badin fishermen said that majority of their boats have suffered damage due to the cyclonic winds, heavy rainfall, and high sea waves. Fishermen are now working on repairing their boats to resume fishing.
Meanwhile, the seaworthy boats chugged out of jetties at dawn and came back at dusk loaded with the bounty of ocean.
For the past 12 days, fishermen have been unemployed as catching fish, prawns, and crabs had ceased, and the buying and selling of seafood had also been disrupted, with no transportation to Karachi's Fish Harbour.
Despite the Zero Point settlement being located within the district's boundaries, the district administration, under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Badin, has transported more than 5,000 residents of the entire fishing community to Qaim Ahmed Rajoo and Gularchi relief camps, providing them with accommodation, along with clean food, drinking water, and medical assistance for five days.
Furthermore, the district administration in Badin has arranged for transportation and ration distribution for the return of thousands of fishermen after the cyclone threat has subsided.
Badin Deputy Commissioner Agha Shah Nawaz Khan said, "we have records and lists of all these fishermen, and with the help of the Pakistan Army Rangers and the police, we will ensure the distribution of rations to all affected individuals in their homes. Additionally, compensation will also be provided after assessing the damage caused to their homes due to the cyclonic winds and heavy rainfall."
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2023.