KARACHI, April 20: Speakers at a seminar here on Thursday expressed concern over the plight of fishermen communities in Sindh and Balochistan, saying that a large number of them lived in abject poverty.

They said that growing unemployment had made fishermen’s life miserable.

They observed a sharp decline in fish species and catch because of the activity of deep-sea trawlers and use of prohibited nets in coastal areas. This, they said, had rendered a large number of fishermen jobless.

Entitled ‘Mahigir Seminar’, it was organized by Morero Mirbehar Tehrik (MMT), an alliance of indigenous coastal fisherfolk of Sindh and Balochistan. On this occasion, the launch of Pakistan Mahigir Movement (PMT) was also announced.

The seminar was largely attended by fishermen from Ibrahim Haideri, Rehri, Baba Bhit, Shamspir, Khadda, Yunisabad, Kaka Village, Soomar Goth and other areas. A large number of women from the fishermen community were also present.

The seminar was chaired by Haji Shafi Mohammad Jamot while the key speakers included Haji Mohammad Yunis, a senior director in the Fishermen Cooperative Society, Muzaffar Ali Shujra of PPP and Zubeda Berwani.

Mr Shujra said it was the fishermen who built Karachi, and it was regretting that no steps had been taken to improve their condition despite the fact that they paid taxes to the KPT and Sindh government.

Demanding that the lands of coastal areas be allotted to fishermen, he called upon fishermen to forge unity in their ranks and file to protect their rights.

Haji Mohammad Yunis called for the holding of election for the chairman and vice-chairman of the FCS by calling a meeting of its 15-member Board so that the Society could function according to the law. He also demanded that the FCS should be run by non-political figure.

He condemned eviction of fishermen from their ancestral land, and alleged that government agencies were behind the action.

Zubeda Berwani, who was made convenor of the Pakistan PMT, said the objective of the Tehrik was to protect the rights of fishermen communities living along the coast of Sindh and Balochistan.

She said: “We are launching our movement from the coast of Karachi, the backbone of the country’s economy.”

Ms Berwani demanded a complete ban on the operation of deep-sea trawlers in the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan.

Haji Shafi Mohammad Jamot urged fishermen community to shun their petty difference and forge unity among their rank and file.

He observed that after the departure of Navy personnel from the Karachi Fish Harbour, things in the fisheries sector had started turning from bad to worse and the sector was now on the verge of collapse. He went on to say that at that time, a ban on deep-sea trawlers had been lifted but the same had now been lifted.

Haji Jamot, who is also a member of the FCS managing committee, said that under the Navy’s control, the Society was on sound footing, both financially and administratively.

He criticised the Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) for its alleged undue interference in the affairs of the FCS.

Participants of the seminar demanded that small fishermen be given landing facilities at the Karachi Fish Harbour and for the purpose, a separate jetty be constructed for them. They also demanded a complete ban on the operation of deep-sea trawlers and creation of employment opportunities for the womenfolk of the fishermen communities.

They called for provision of basic amenities, such as water, electricity, health and education, to fishermen villages.

Earlier, a large number of fishermen held a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club. Carrying banners and placards, they raised slogans against deep-sea trawlers and demanded jobs for their womenfolk.

The fishermen entered the venue of the seminar in their traditional way — beating drums, singing traditional songs and dancing in their traditional style.