KARACHI, Jan 23: More than 20,000 people, largely fishermen, inhabiting the islands off the coast of Keamari, are still without basic amenities because of neglect and apathy of on the part of civic authorities.

A visit to the Baba, Bhit and Shamspir islands and its adjacent areas, including Kaka village and Yunisabad shows that availability of basic amenities, electricity, gas and water are the problems which need immediate solution.

The grim faces of fishermen reflect hardships and miseries the islanders are faced with. Poverty-striken as they are, most fishermen even find kerosene as an expensive commodity as it is to be shipped to the islands from the city.

An islander complained that if these facilities could be made available to naval personnel to Manora-which falls within the jurisdiction of the Karachi Cantonment Board-why the same could be provided to them.

Water is supplied to these islands through drums brought by boats and then are sold to them. Basic health care facilities are still inadequate. Residents say that they have to visit city hospitals in case of emergency. Local dispensaries are ill-equipped and are always short of medicines.

Because of neglect and lack of planning, these islands, once have been source of picnickers in the city, are losing their natural beauty and charm. The islanders have urged authorities to take immediate and effective measures for solution of their problems.