Sindh Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Muhammad Ali Malkani has said that the provincial government is committed to fully implementing the improved fishing-license system and to concrete steps for the removal of the illegal occupation over the lakes and other sweet water bodies by influential people for the benefit.
He was addressing a 15-member delegation of Pakistan FisherFolk Forum (PFF) led by its chairman, Muhammad Ali Shah, which was calling on him at his office, here on Tuesday. Secretary Livestock and Fisheries Ghulam Hussain Memon, Director General Fisheries Ghulam Muhammad Mehar, Director Fisheries Zahoor Abbasi, and representatives of Pakistan FisherFolk Forum and officials of the Fisheries Department were also present on the occasion.
Chairman PFF Muhammad Ali Shah and other representatives of the body presented and highlighted genuine grievances of fishermen and communities tied to the fishing industry. These issues include illegal occupation of influential persons over lakes and sweet water, water shortage and its disposal by the irrigation department, proper implantation of licensing system, geological and satellite survey of all sweet water.
They also asked for improvement in the living standards of fishermen, and stressed on the need for coordination among all stake holders and the monitoring of officials etc.
The minister for Livestock, Muhammad Ali Malkani, while expressed his sympathy with their views, and assured them that all genuine grievances of the poor fishermen and fisheries communities would be resolved as PPP’s Chairman, Bilawal Zardari, was aware of their and desired to improve the living standards of fishermen.
He said the Government of Sindh was working on the problem and was looking for concrete steps for development.
The minister further assured the delegates that the government would take all possible measures to protect the rights of fisheries community and prepare welfare projects for their well being. He assured them that satellite and ground survey and mapping of all lakes and sweet water bodies would be carried out.
He said coordinated efforts should be taken with the departments for irrigation, revenue, agriculture, forest, and other stakeholders to devise a proper mechanism/strategy for the amelioration of the lives of poor fishermen and related communities at the grass root level on priority.
