GWADAR: The protesting fishermen of the port city of Gwadar on Sunday called off their month-long strike after successful negotiations with officials of the provincial government and the Gwadar Port Authority.

Official sources said that Gwadar Port Authority Chairman Mir Dostain Khan Jamaldini and the provincial government officials held negotiations with Fishermen Alliance leader Khuda-i-Dad Wajo in a protest camp where a large number of fishermen were present.

Mr Jamaldini and Additional Deputy Commissioner Anis Ahmed Gorgage said that demands of the fishermen were justified and informed the protesting fishermen that the government had accepted their all demands.

They said Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani had ordered the Gwadar Port Authority to construct a jetty in Gwadar.

Among the fishermen’s demands included their access to the sea for fishing at the eastern side of Gwadar coast. They were of the view that with the construction of Eastbay Expressway fishermen would be denied their access up to the sea where they had been fishing for decades.

“We want protection of our centuries-old livelihood,” Mr Wajo said while announcing to call off the strike.

However, he said, if implementation on the demands was not begun within a month the fishermen would again launch a protest.

Provincial Minister for Information Zahoor Buledi, MNA from Gwadar Mohammad Aslam Bhootani, Senator Kohda Babar and MPA of the area Hamal Kalmati have played an important role in the success of negotiations.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2018