July 30, 2008	Wednesday	Rajab 26, 1429

KARACHI, July 29: The Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA) will provide 4,000 computerized crew cards to the fishermen community in Baba Island, Bhit Island, Shamspir and Baldia town.

This was stated by Provincial Minister for Fisheries Zahid Ali Bhurgari while speaking as the chief guest at a distribution ceremony of computerized cards held at Bhit Island on Monday.

It was a long-standing demand of bona-fide fishermen of different villages that the KFHA should arrange and deliver fishermen crew cards at their villages so that they may not have to visit the KFHA office at Karachi Fish Harbour in West Wharf.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Bhurgari said the present government was fully aware of the problems of fishermen and keenly desired to solve their problems.

He told the audience that the government had allocated Rs100 million for the welfare of fishermen and development of fishermen’s villages in Sindh.

The provincial minister announced that an ambulance boat would be provided to Bhit Island to facilitate the shifting of patients during emergency.

Provincial Minister for Transport Akhtar Ali Jadoon also announced that the government planned to construct a community centre in Baba Island.

On this occasion, representatives of the fishermen complained about maltreatment being meted out to them by various government agencies.

Later, the minister visited the Pakistan Customs checkpoint on the high seas near Manora accompanied by Waheed Ahmed, KFJA managing director and other officials.