24 February 2004	Tuesday	03 Muharram 1425

KARACHI, Feb 23: The lingering dispute of port property's rent, which had become bone of contention between the two key organizations at Karachi Fish Harbour has amicably resolved, it is learnt.

Though the two sides - Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) and Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) - had sorted out details of the agreement in July last, it was never implemented as yet. The FCS Board of Directors, at the July meeting, had agreed to pay Rs10 million per annum to the KFHA for using the facilities at the harbour.

The agreement, however, could not be implemented because of reservations expressed by some of the directors. As a result, the KFHA also could not launch some of its projects.

The government had persistently been urging both the sides to resolve the dispute in the interest of both the fishermen community and fisheries sector. The provincial Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, Sardar Manzoor Ali Panhwar, took personal interest in resolving the issue.

He held a series of meetings with the directors and constituted a six-member coordination committee headed by FCS Vice-chairman Abuzar Mariwara. Directors and officials from both sides were appointed members of the committee which was assigned the task of finding a permanent solution through dialogue.

On Monday, the committee held its meeting at the harbour and discussed modalities of implementation the FCS decision. The meeting was also attended by MD of KFHA Mohammad Nawaz Baloch.

It is learnt that the committee has decided to implement the decision which would be conveyed to the FCS directors at a meeting of the Board of Directors on Tuesday.

The FCS is the prime user of the port facilities like jetties, markets, offices spread over an area of 24,102 square years, etc. After completion of development schemes at the harbour, the KFHA demanded a 50 per cent share from the income earned by the Society through the commission by auctioning fish catch.

The FCS disagreed to the KFHA demand and filed a writ in the court of law. The dispute was lingering on for years. It is further learnt now that the new lease agreement would be for a period of 25 years.