DADU, May 24: Two organizations of fishermen have appealed to the federal and Sindh governments and international donor agencies to provide basic facilities to the fishermen of Manchhar lake.

Speaking at a press conference at the Dadu Press Club here on Monday, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum vice chairperson Mustafa Mirani and Manchhar Welfare Organization office-bearers Qadir Baloch, Yar Mohammad Mallah, Hot Khan Mallah and Ghulam Mustafa Mallah demanded that the Sindh government should announce tax-free fishing policy for three years for the Manchhar lake because of poor economic condition of the fishermen.

They said that the government should pay attention to issues of education, health and supply of drinking water to the villages fishermen. They alleged that power houses of Jamshoro and a pharmaceutical company were releasing effluent in the Indus which had reduced the fish catch.

They said that channels of the Manchhar lake including Aral Wah should be opened for draining out two feet more water. They threatened if channels were not opened soon they would resort to protest.

They said that the government should provide interest-free loans on easy instalments to fishermen to enable them to earn their livelihood. A WHO representative, Dr Khadim Lakhair, called for release of funds to provide education and health facilities to fishermen.

In his report sent on Monday to the WHO's senior officials he said that the scope of water supply programme should be extended to 21 more villages as water-borne diseases were spreading among fishermen due to contamination of water. He told Dawn that 50 hand pumps would be installed in 21 villages on emergency basis. He said that loans would be given to fishermen for purchase of new boats.