KARACHI, Feb 6: The government will spend Rs50 billion on different projects in the fisheries sector to improve the lifestyle of the fishing community.

This was stated by Sindh Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Faqir Mohammad Jadam Mangrio while talking to newsmen after a meeting with the fisheries officials on Tuesday evening at the Karachi Fish Harbour.

The adviser, who is also the co-chairman of the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) and the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA), said that the government planned to build model villages and dairy farms in every village on modern lines having proper road network, drinking water, electricity system and hatcheries.He said that the government was giving top priority to the uplift of fishermen, which was evident from the fact that a huge fund had been earmarked for the uplift of coastal areas of the province including Karachi. Mr Mangrio added that the government was making all-out efforts to involve all stakeholders in the development work but regretted that they were not responding positively.

Referring to the island issue, the adviser said that the issue was blown up out of all proportions by vested interests to achieve their selfish designs.

“We have invited them for talks so as to remove their reservations, but they have refused to do so,” he added.

Mr Mangrio said the island land was the property of Sindh and no country could snatch it and denied that any fisherman was uprooted from his land. It was merely propaganda, he added.

He said that he had visited the twin islands of Dingi and Bandaar along with a team of journalists and we had found not a single house in the island.

The adviser said that the government wanted development of the islands to provide better facilities to the natives so that they could improve their living standards.

About the EU inspection team tour, he said that the team had visited the Karachi Fish Harbour and inspected all the harbour facilities including seafood processing units and auction halls, hoping that a positive response would be received after the submission of report to the relevant EU authorities.

In reply to a question, Mr Mangrio admitted that the recovery of outstanding dues of the FCS against mole-holders (registered commission agents) was slow.

However, he said ever since he took charge out of the outstanding Rs100 million, Rs10 million had been recovered and efforts were under way to recover the remaining amount.

Earlier, the adviser held a meeting with the officials of the fisheries sector also attended by KFHA managing director and the chairman of Marine Fisheries Department. The meeting discussed problems of the fisheries sector.