KARACHI, March 27: A separate complex for mole-holders (authorized commission agents) will be constructed at Karachi Fish Harbour to facilitate their business.

This was stated by the Minister of Fisheries Sardar Manzoor Panhwar, who is also chairman of the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS), while chairing a meeting of mole-holders here on Saturday.

The two key organizations of the harbour - Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) and the FCS - would undertake construction of the complex jointly.

Sardar Panhwar issued necessary orders for an early completion of the project.

He noted that the project could not be executed due to various problems faced by successive administrations.

Praising the role of mole-holders in the development of fisheries sector, the minister acknowledged that they were a main source of revenues.

He urged them to clear the FCS dues to enable the Society to undertake various development projects and settle pending matters with the KFHA.

Earlier, President of the Mole-Holders Association Babu Ismail identified various problems being faced by its members while at work.

He pointed out that the mole-holders provided loans to boat-owners for the purchase of water, food, ice, oil, etc. The loan is eventually adjusted/recovered when their catch is auctioned.

Mr Ismail regretted that despite payment of their contribution to the FCS, the mole-holders had been facing a lot of problems in recovering the loans from fishermen.

He hoped that the FCS and KFHA would look into this and certain other problems on a priority basis.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chairman of the FCS Abuzar Mariwala held out the assurance that mole-holders' problems would be resolved once they cleared their FCS dues.

He urged the association to extend its full cooperation to the Society in the implementation of uplift projects.