12 April 2004	Monday	21 Safar 1425

QUETTA, April 11: The National Party (NP) has strongly opposed the new Fishing Policy of the government and termed it a conspiracy against the poor fishermen of Makran.

NP information secretary Dr Ishaq Baloch said here on Sunday that with the imposition of the new policy the big trawlers would be allowed to enter the Balochistan waters up to 12 nautical miles for deep fishing.

Earlier they were allowed only up to 35 nautical miles leaving some fish for the small fishermen of the Makran coast, he added. He demanded of the government to revise the fishing policy as it would deprive the people of Makran coast of their livelihood.

Moreover he said that the big trawlers should only be allowed up to 50 nautical miles in the Balochistan waters giving some room to the poor fishermen for netting fish. The NP leader warned that if the government did not revise the fishing policy his party would launch a movement against the decision.