Taunsa Barrage was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1974 under the Punjab Wildlife Act introduced in the same year. It is home to a variety of fish, including the Indus River Dolphin. PHOTO: AFP
The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) will celebrate the International Day of Action for Rivers today (Saturday) by showering rose petals into the Indus River at alManzar in Jamshoro.
The 14-day celebrations that began at Kharo Chhan in Thatta were suspended following the death of PFF founding leader Tahira Ali, who died in a road accident near Sujawal on Tuesday while going to attend a PFF event in Badin. The former vice-chairperson of the organisation, Tahira had been on the front line throughout PFF's struggle for the rights of the fishing communities.
Although PFF chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah, who was also injured in the accident that killed his wife Tahira, will not be able to participate in the celebrations, he appealed to activists, fishermen and peasants to take part in it to demonstrate their unity to the world.
The International Day of Action for Rivers, which is observed by water activists across the globe on March 14 every year, demands the restoration of the flow of rivers so they can reach their natural destinations such as deltas, lakes and the sea.
"We have lost a daring activist but her role in the struggle for fishermen's rights, water rights and land rights will be remembered forever," said PFF general secretary Saeed Baloch, paying homage to Tahira. "She is a martyr of our campaign, sacrificing her life to give us the courage to follow in her footsteps for the cause."
Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2015.
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