KARACHI, Jan 2: A special package for the betterment of fishermen community and development of Karachi Fish Harbour would be announced by the President Musharraf shortly.

The package has been prepared by the provincial Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Sardar Manzoor Ali Panhwar, who is also Chairman of the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS).

Talking to a group of newsmen at his Sindh Secretariat office on Friday, the minister confirmed that the President was being invited to visit the harbour. The minister also said that proposals regarding a special package for fishermen's welfare were being worked out by the department on the basis of his recommendations. He said that he would proceed to Islamabad soon and submit the proposals to the President.

Highlighting the salient features of the package, Mr Panhwar said the main focus would be on the redevelopment of the harbour and betterment of fishermen for whom a housing project had also been planned.

Mr Panhwar revealed that the proposals included a desalination plant for the harbour and another plant for recycling the Lyari River water with a view to ensure hygienic conditions at the harbour.

He said measures would also be taken for the construction of peeling sheds to boost shrimp exports to the countries having great demand for Pakistani seafood.

He maintained that President Musharraf was taking keen interest in the welfare of fishermen community. The minister was of the view that the confidence reposed by Sindh MPAs in the President was an endorsement of Gen Musharraf's domestic as well as foreign policies which had boosted Pakistan's image in the comity of nations.

Referring to the normalization process in the subcontinent, he expressed the hope Pakistan and India would show maximum patience towards the violation by poor fishermen of their respective territorial waters and finally stop the practice of arresting them.

He said the coastal authorities of both the countries would soon be holding dialogue to sort out the issue and find out a permanent and workable solution.In reply to a question, Mr Panhwar said the fishing dispute with Balochistan government had been settled amicably following a long series of talks with the chief minister of that province. He pointed out that there had been no complaint of victimization since the settlement.