Sindh Trawler Owners and Fishermen Association held a rally demanding issuance of crew cards to Bengali fishermen at Karachi Fish Harbour on Tuesday.
The participants of the rally carrying national flags were raising “Pakistan Zindabad” slogans. Pakistan Muslim League-N MPA Shafi Muhammad Jamot, addressing the rally, said although Pakistan was an agricultural country, however, if the government focused its priorities towards fishing sector, it would generate more revenue than agriculture sector.
He urged the government to form a committee for resolving the issues of Bengali fishermen on priority basis. Sindh Trawler Owners and Fishermen Association’s Patron Sarwar Aijaz Siddiqui claimed that due to non-issuance of crew cards to Bengali fishermen, 90 per cent launches were lying idle at the harbours.
Association president Habibullah Khan and General Secretary Akbar Khan on the occasion said that around 5 to 6 million families were associated with the profession. The Karachi fish harbour, he said, made exports of around $500 million and sold sea food worth Rs 70 billion in local market. They said if the crew cards were not issued to Bengali fishermen the local market as well as country’s export might be hit.