KARACHI, Nov 22: Fishermen have rejected the fisheries policy introduced recently by the government, saying that it appeared beneficial only to investors and contractors, and not fishermen.

“The policy has been introduced after 60 years, still it failed to guarantee the basic rights of local fishermen,” said a declaration issued at a meeting of the fishermen community leaders held under the auspices of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) at Moriro Community Centre in Ibrahim Hyderi on Wednesday evening. The event was organised to mark the World Fisheries Day.

The declaration observed that the community was faced with many threats to its livelihood and if the situation persisted, it would affect three million fishermen living along the country’s coastline.

The community had been under severe economic strains over the decades due to the government’s wrong policies, it said.

Karamat Hussain of the PILER, Iqbal Hyder of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Khadim Hussain of the ActionAid, Prof Mohammad Nauman, Tahira Ali and Aly Ercelawn, besides Mohammad Ali Shah of the PFF spoke on the occasion.

They noted that in spite of a decision taken by the provincial government on introducing licence system for fishing, some influential figures had still been maintaining their monopoly, depriving the poor fishermen community of their rights.—PPI