KARACHI, Jan 22: Four key figures of the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) have called for dismantling all illegal private jetties and landing sites in the coastal area of Karachi.
These private landing sites, they said, had been operating for years without paying any commission to the Society, thereby depriving the fishermen from a sizable source of income.
These private jetties, they pointed out, are operating in Ibrahim Haideri, Chashma Goth, Rehri, Lat Basti and some other parts of the Karachi coast Vice-chairman FCS Abuzar Mariwara and directors Ghulam Ali Mech, Salim Deedag and Habibullah Baloch were talking to newsmen at the Karachi Fish Harbour on Thursday.
They alleged that vested interests had launched a systematic campaign to discredit the present FCS leadership as they were perturbed over the fishermen welfare package prepared by the chairman of the Society, and which would be soon presented to the Prime Minister for approval.
According to them, under the new package the fishermen would be allotted land for housing purposes and provided with facilities for construction. Giving other salient features of the package, they said desalination plants would be set up in fishermen villages to provide them with drinking water. More schools and dispensaries would be opened and communication network improved.
They lauded the efforts of Chairman FCS Manzoor Ali Panhwar, who is also the Provincial Minister for Fisheries and Livestock, for presenting the grievances of fishermen to the federal authorities.
RECRUITMENTS: They sought to dispel the impression that the FCS was faced with a serious financial crisis because of "fresh recruitments", saying that "We have provided jobs to 150 fishermen families" to mitigate the sufferings of the people.
About the reports of recruiting surplus staff, they said the FCS chairman had already constituted a committee to scrutinise the list to terminate the services of those who did not qualify. However, some senior directors were of the view that the recruitments had surpassed the limit approved by the Board of Directors of the Society.
They also denied the charges of corruption made by certain elements against the FCS leadership saying FCS elected directors were chosen by fishermen and they were accountable to them.