KARACHI, July 21: A 16-year-old dispute on port property rent which had been a bone of contention between two important organizations at Karachi Fish Harbour has been resolved.
This was stated by Sardar Manzoor Ali Khan Panhwar, Sindh minister for livestock and fisheries, who is also the chairman of Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) and the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS), while talking to Dawn after a meeting of the board of directors of the FCS.
The minister said under a new package deal, the FCS which has been using port facilities would pay Rs10 million per annum to the KFHA for the facility it was presently availing in the harbour.
The FCS is the prime user of port facility at Karachi Fish Harbour. It is utilizing the facility of jetties, markets, offices.
After the development of the fish harbour, the KFHA demanded 50 per cent share from the income earned by the society from the commission by auctioning fish-catch at the harbour.
The FCS had never agreed to the KFHA on this count and filed a writ in the court of law. The crisis was lingering on for years and no settlement was reached between the key stack-holders.
Later, the Sindh government fixed Rs650 per sq yard per annum instead of a 50 per cent commission. Some of the FCS directors had also opposed it.
The issue surfaced again when Sardar Manzoor Ali Panhwar took over the charge and he pledged to solve it.
The minister also said the new lease would be granted for 25 years, adding the income received by the KFHA would be spent on development of the harbour.
Mr Panhwar said the meeting also decided that the task of sanitation be handed to the KFHA and it would reduce financial burden of the FCS.
To a question, the minister said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and cooperative atmosphere and it paved the way of solution of other outstanding issues.
He further said as a goodwill gesture, the meeting decided to nominate Haji Shafi Mohammad Jamote to head a committee to sort out other outstanding issues.
The minister said he would soon undertake a visit of Hawkesbay village as a part of his campaign to personally meet fishermen and acquaint himself with their problems.
Replying to a question, the minister said the elections for the vice-chairmanship were held according to the society’s by-laws.
Talking to Dawn, senior director Haji Mohammad Yunis said he was satisfied with the outcome of the Monday’s meeting.
Appreciating the reconciliatory attitude of the minister, he said an atmosphere of goodwill had been created and it would certainly be helpful in resolving the outstanding issues in future.
