KARACHI, March 17: A large number of fishermen in coastal towns of Karachi live in sub-human conditions.

Mohammad Haroon, an elder of Mubarak village said: “Lack of basic amenities, particularly water supply, electricity and health is the foremost problem faced by the area people”.

The residents have urged the government to direct the development agencies to prepare special uplift plans to bring about a change in the lifestyle of those who have been suffering for years due to negligence of authorities.

A survey of coastal areas in Keamari town shows that fishermen communities still live in abject poverty and for years, they have been depending upon fisheries as their only source of income and there are no alternative means of income-generation for them.

Most of these fishermen who live in small villages consisting of mainly wooden huts and semi pucca houses, are deprived of basic amenities, such as water, electricity and health and education facilities and they are not aware of any modern concept of health, education and other facilities.

The official apathy could be judged from the fact that high government officers hardly visit these villages.

Perhaps, it is because of this factor government agencies have not paid any attention to their upliftment.