January 31, 2006	Tuesday	Muharram 1, 1427

KARACHI, Jan 30: Pakistan Fisher-folk Forum, an NGO working for the betterment of fishermen communities, has announced its dissociation from the strike being observed by boat-owners in Karachi against a hike in diesel prices.

A press release issued by the forum on Monday said the strike had nothing to do with the problems relating to fishermen, and that it was being observed by a certain group of vested interests on a single issue whereas there were other pressing issues relating to fisher-folk which need to be resolved on an urgent basis.

It pointed out that the use of fine (banned) nets by foreign fishing trawlers, destruction of fish species and sea resources by mechanized fishing, growing cost of nets and food, and harassment of fishermen by different security agencies, besides the increasing fuel charges, were some of these pressing issues.

At its recent meeting, the release said, the forum had decided to hold its elections in May next. The meeting, presided over by the PFF also decided to organize a march from Ketty Bandar to Islamabad to highlight the problems being faced by fishermen communities. The problems included Sindh’s water share in the Indus delta and migration of the people living in the delta region, it added.