HYDERABAD, Nov 4: The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum has demanded that the government should abolish the contract system on sweet waters of Sindh and issuing of licences to fishermen for catching fish.

Speaking at a press conference at the press club on Friday, Mustafa Mirani, Saeed Baloch and Ayoub Khaskheli said that the Sindh government had abolished the contract system on Manchhar and Keenjhar lakes and Indus River at Jamshoro and Kotri due to relentless struggle of fishermen and subsequent intervention of the president.

They said that the contract system was still in vogue on other sweet water lakes and ponds.

They said that the Sindh government and the fisheries department continued to issue auction schedule for catching fish in sweet waters which was not acceptable to fishermen.

They announced to launch a struggle in Sindh against the contract system.

They said that the fishermen would observe a week-long hunger strike in Sanghar upto November 10 and also observe hunger strike in Karachi on Nov 7.

They said that protest demonstrations would also be held in Badin and Thatta.