March 02, 2008	Sunday	Safar 23, 1429

KARACHI, March 1: The acting minister of Culture, Tourism, Sports and Youth Affairs, Ms Amber Raza Nensey while appreciating the efforts of Aziz Agha — the founder of saltwater sportfishing in Pakistan — has assured him that sportfishing will soon get its due recognition and the Sindh Government will soon be organising saltwater sportfishing events.

The minister, who met Agha at the Sindh Secretariat this week, was impressed by a slide presentation on “Promotion of Sportfishing and its related tourism in Sindh” made by Agha’s Sportfishing.

Agha, who has over 35 years of sea-fishing experience, informed the minister in detail about the global status of this multi-billion dollar saltwater sea fishing sport and its potential in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Sindh.

Agha emphasised that saltwater sportfishing is an over 100 years old sport in the UK, the US and Australia where high-profile offshore fishing tournaments are held annually, Pakistan should also capitalise in the large variety of world renowned gamefish available in the Arabian Sea and hold such events regularly to attract tourists.

Agha requested the Sport and Tourism sector of Sindh to act without further delay and to give immediate recognition to this neglected sport and allocate adequate budget for organising offshore sportfishing events in Karachi.—Agencies