KARACHI - Commissioner Karachi, Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui has assured the fishing community of Karachi of early completion of fishing site at Gizri creek.
Following the directives of Chief Minister, Sindh Commissioner Karachi chaired a meeting with member of Fishers’ Folk Forum. Siddiqui said government is genuinely committed to address the problems of the fisherman belonging to Karachi and its local villages.
The delegations led by Mohammed Ali Shah and Sami Memon informed the commissioner about the prevalent disquiet among fishing community due to their difficult accessibility to sea water leading to growing unemployment among them.
The meeting was also attended by additional director vigilance, DHA, Lt Col Farooqi, besides the representative commander, Pakistan Navy, Chair man Karachi port trust, chief collector, Pakistan custom (preventive) and director, special projects – DHA.
The representative of fishing community referred to disbandment of a jetty used by DHA authorities’ years ago, however, despite all commitment no new jetty could be build severely affecting the livelihood of fishermen. They also referred to the issue of international waters that the fishermen may inadvertently cross and exposed due to security related legal conditional.
Concerned law enforcing agencies representatives said the issue has been taken up and efforts are underway to provide needed guidance as well as protection to sea the fishermen of the country. The official present of the occasion informed that the limit for small boats entering into deep sea water is 12 nautical miles and that concerned fishermen also need to get themselves registered with any of the country’s fish harbor.
As for long pending issue of “jetty” the additional commissioner said DHA in compliance to its commitment had allotted a suitable piece of land for it and the contract was also given to NESPAK, However, the delay was due to inability of NESPAK to start the work.
Commissioner Karachi said the issue would be immediately taken up and all concerned authorities at provincial as well as federal level would be involved to get the project completed without any unnecessary delay. Fishermen forum said their community, on immediate basis, needed a platform to park a minimum number of 40 boats and that the matter pending since 2005 ought to be addressed on urgent basis.