KARACHI, Feb 10: Huge stocks of dead fish of different species were found at Karachi coast from Clifton to Ibrahim Hyderi on Thursday, which are said to have died due to discharge of poisonous chemicals and other such effluents to the sea by the factories located at the coastal belt.

The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum that broke the news in a release on Friday claimed that the dead fish were in thousands of tons.

On receiving information from the local fishermen, a PFF team visited the area where a large number of people had thronged to see the dead fish piled at the coast. Unaware of the hazards of poisonous dead fish, most people were seen carrying it to their homes while flocks of carrion-eating birds were also seen hurling at the dead fish.

“We had immediately informed the authorities concerned including environmental protection agency but no action has been taken by any of them even on Friday,” said a PFF spokesperson.

He said that the PFF was in search of the factory, which had caused such incident that might result in spread of diseases as according to reports certain elements had collected the dead fish for selling in the market.

The PFF demanded of the authorities concerned to take serious and swift note of the situation and undertake cleaning of the coastal area besides stern action against the factories discharging poisonous effluents in the sea.—PPI