KARACHI, May 12: The Sindh government has asked the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) and Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA) again to resolve their lingering dispute over the issue of the harbour’s rent rate.

It is reliably learnt that the provincial government has issued an order impressing upon both the organizations to implement its Feb 13, 2002 notification.

According to the notification, “both the organizations will have to enter a lease agreement in respect of an area comprising 24,102 square yards for 15 years at the rate of Rs650 per sq yard per annum instead of 50 per cent of 6.25 per cent i.e. 3.125 per cent commission, with subsequent enhancement as regulated by the Rent Regulation of Government of Sindh from time to time.

“It may be renewable with mutual consent of both the parties and the government of Sindh keeping in view the satisfactory performance of management of operational activities, hygienic conditions, quality control conditions and general cleanliness in accordance with the European Economic Commission (EEC) standards in the area presently declared as Export Zone by the FCS at its own cost and expectations.”

Th notification could not be implemented because of reservations expressed by the FCS, which had already filed a petition against the KFHA, on the assets of the harbour.

The KFHA was created by the government of Sindh through an ordinance in 1984. Under this ordinance, all affairs of the harbour were to be regulated by the KFHA.

In 1995, through a notification, the government had transferred all land and water areas within the harbour to the KFHA.

An amendment to the ordnance was made in the following year and approved by the provincial assembly whereby the number of directors of the KFHA Board was increased from 11 to 15 and the number nominees to the FCS was reduced from six to five.

Later, in a notification on Nov 11, 1996 the government had directed the KFHA to enter into a lease agreement immediately with the FCS in respect of fish auction halls at the harbour.

The agreement was to be executed initially for six months and to be renewed for another six months keeping in view the satisfactory performance of the management of operational activities and hygienic conditions as required by the EEC.