BADIN, Feb 12: Sindh Population Welfare Minister Syed Ali Bux Shah has expressed concern over the attitude of the fisheries department towards fishermen of the coastal belt and opposed leasing out of fishing waters.

He told a press conference at his camp office here on Friday that the fisheries department had submitted a summary to the chief minister for leasing out fishing waters of the coastal area. He regretted that the adviser on fisheries, Jadam Mangrio, had got the summary signed by the chief minister for his own interest which had hurt feelings of fishermen of the district.

Mr Shah announced to join the fishermen in their protest and wage a struggle against the contract system.

He said the Sindh governor and the chief minister had appointed him the chairman of a committee to resolve problems of the fishermen but the committee's recommendations had not been incorporated into the summary moved to the chief minister.

He observed that the committee's suggestions would resolve the fishermen's problems because the proposals were also agreed upon by a committee of fishermen.

The minister alleged that Mr Mangrio had tried to win favour of contactors of the fisheries department but he would not allow any one to usurp rights of the local fishermen. He said he would work for interests of the fishermen because fishing was their only source of livelihood. He said he would apprise the president of the issue, who had been kind enough to the fishermen and restricted the Rangers from taking fishing benefits.

Answering a question, he said the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum was not a real representative of the local fishermen. He said the PFF had held a protest rally in the name of fishermen's rights at the Regal Chowk in Karachi but its leaders spoke few words for the fishermen and targeted other national issues.