July 06, 2008	Sunday	Rajab 2, 1429

KARACHI, July 5: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman has said that the government will soon come out with a welfare package for the fishermen community.

She made this announcement during her visit to a medical camp organised by the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) at Baba Island in Keamari Town here on Saturday. She administered anti-polio drops to some children at the camp.

The minister, who also holds the additional charge of health, said that the government was fully aware of the problems being faced by the fishermen community. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bring about a remarkable change in the quality of life of the poor and downtrodden.

She said the government would establish a general hospital on Baba-Bhit Island where fishermen and their families would be provided a comprehensive health care cover.

A dispensary for women of the community would be set up on an immediate basis, she added.

Expressing her concern over the deteriorating financial condition of the fishermen community, she acknowledged that the community was the backbone of the fisheries sector, which was contributing $190 million to the national exchequer annually. She said the government would take steps to help fishermen increase their income so that they could also live a prosperous life.

Ms Rehman said that the Pakistan People’s Party had always worked for the betterment of the fishermen community while in power, and held out the assurance that it would never take any step against the interests of the community.

About the welfare package, she said that the government was working on it with a view to improve the quality of life of fishermen, adding that the package would be announced shortly.

The minister lauded the Fishermen Cooperative Society’s role in safeguarding the rights of the fishermen community and doing its best for the community’s welfare. She noted that the FCS had also played a key role in educating fishermen about the modern technology being used in the fisheries sector.

Provincial Minister for Cooperatives Abdul Jalil, MNA Abdul Qadir Patel and FCS administrator Mohammad Jafar Khwaja were among those present.

Deep-sea fishing

Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Fisheries Zahid Ali Bhurgari has urged the federal authorities to cancel all licences issued to foreign parties for deep-sea fishing in Pakistani waters.

The issue was taken up by him with the Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Ahsanulla Gondal in a meeting held here on Friday.

A number of other issues relating to the fisheries sector came under discussion at the meeting. Mr Bhurgari called for the handing over of the Korangi fish harbour to the Sindh fisheries department.

He also informed the federal minister about the issue of harassment of fishermen by federal agencies and said that the federal authorities should look into the matter.

Mr Bhurgari said personnel of several federal agencies were deployed in the fish harbour and there were widespread complaints of harassment of fishermen by these officials.

He suggested that one-window operation be introduced at the city’s harbours in the interest of fishermen.