QUETTA: The member of the National Assembly from Gwadar-Lasbela, Aslam Bhootani, has assured the fishermen of Gwadar district of getting the Eastbay Expressway redesigned to ensure protection of their livelihood.

Mr Bhootani, who is also a former speaker of the Balochistan Assembly, met fishermen on Sunday during a visit to Gwadar, Pasni and Ormara along with the chairman of the Supreme Court Water Commission.

They also reviewed the water situation in the coastal towns of Gwadar district.

During the meeting fishermen informed Mr Bhootani that the Eastbay Expressway was designed by a Chinese company and the Gwadar Development Authority, but they did not consider that this design would badly affect the livelihood of fishermen.

The route, through which the fishermen have access to the sea for fishing, will be closed.

The fishermen had observed a strike for about three weeks last month in protest against the expressway’s design. They called off their protest after the provincial government had assured to resolve the issue.

Aslam Bhootani said that as a representative of the people of Gwadar he would make all out efforts to protect the fishermen’s rights. “Access to the sea is the right of the fishermen of Gwadar district for earning their livelihood,” he told Dawn.

He assured the fishermen that he will take up the issue with the minister for maritime affairs and other authorities concerned and urge them to redesign Eastbay Expressway.

Published in Dawn, February 4th , 2019