KARACHI: Law on fishing nets in the offing: minister
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, Feb 25: The provincial Minister for Fisheries, Manzoor Panhwar, on Wednesday admitted in the Sindh Assembly that some fishermen were still using the banned fishing nets and stated that the government was contemplating a law to punish such elements.
He was replying to a question, raised by the opposition People’s Party Parliamentarians’ Abdullah Murad, whether any fishermen were using Bolo Gujjo despite a ban imposed in 1995. He also asked for details of any action taken against the violators operating in the area from Korangi Creek to Ketti Bunder.
“Yes. It is a fact that fishermen are using banned nets, despite ban imposed in 1995,” replied Mr Panhwar adding that in 2001, raids were conducted by the teams constituted by the Director of Fisheries (Research & Development) in collaboration with the Fishermen’s Co-operative Society and Sindh Police.
Consequently, he said, 35 prohibited nets were confiscated and kept at the Directorate of Fisheries, Karachi. However, the minister could not give the yearly breakup of raids.
He said that under the proposed law, three year imprisonment would be awarded and a fine of Rs100,000 rupees imposed on violators of the ban.
About the time frame for the implementation of such a law, the minister said that the ministry of law was working on the draft law.
Mr Murad’s also raised a question about an early warning system to monitor impending cyclone, hurricane, etc. in order to avoid casualties and damage along the coastline as well as in the waters. Mr Panwhar informed the House that the Director of Fisheries (Research & Development), Karachi used to circulate such warnings and related information through the Fishermen’s Cooperative Society which always remained well in touch with the fishermen community and people of the area in question.
To a question, the minister said that due to the paucity of funds, fishermen were not equipped with wireless sets, therefore, the weather forecast and other information needed to be conveyed to them were being transmitted through the FM radio. He, however, admitted that the system was not 100 per cent reliable, especially in bad weather. He said the Maritime Security Agency used to come to the rescue of fishermen in distress.
Mr Murad further asked whether it was a fact that the collection of the education cess tax had been assigned to Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (Sessi).
Giving year-wise details, Labour Minister Muhammad Adil Siddiqui informed the House that since 1994 total collection stood at Rs180,647,418.77. The amount transferred was Rs177,034,401.97 and the collection charges retained by Sessi at the rate of two per cent stood at Rs3,612,946.80.
He said that collection of education cess was assigned to Sessi in August 1994 vide Sindh Workers Education Cess (collection) Rules 1994, published by the Government of Sindh under Labour and Transport Department’s notification.
He said the 2 per cent collection charges were being deducted and retained by Sessi in pursuance of Rule-8(7) of the Sindh Workers Children Education Cess (utilization) Rules, 1994, as amended.
