KARACHI, April 28: A meeting of fisherwomen assured Begum Sehba Musharraf that they would fully participate in the April 30 referendum but vote for President Musharraf.

Held at the Karachi Fish Harbour on Sunday morning, the meeting was organized by the Karachi Fishermen Cooperative Society and the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority. It was largely attended by the womenfolk of different coastal areas of Karachi.

Addressing the gathering, Begum Musharraf said that the government was fully aware of their problems and was making all-out efforts to solve them. She lauded fisherwomen for fulfilling their domestic duties and national responsibilities along with man.

She said the nation must be proud of this community which played an important role in foreign exchange earnings. Referring to the demands of fishermen communities, she reiterated government’s resolve to solve them.

She recounted various measures taken by the government for the welfare of the people, saying that the law and order situation in the country had greatly improved, and local government had been introduced to devolve power at the grassroots level under which 33 per cent seats were reserved for women so that they could play their due role in the national affairs. She said that inter-provincial harmony had improved and there was freedom of press in the country.

As a result of these measures, she said the image of the country had improved in the comity of nations. She urged women to vote for the President on April 30 so that he could continue his reforms aimed at alleviating poverty.

On this occasion, the gathering chanted slogans in favour of General Musharraf and pledged to vote for him on the referendum day.

Earlier, elected lady councillors of the area urged the government to review its deep-sea fishing policy causing destruction to the sea resources.

They also called for an end to soft nets which is the main cause for the destruction of juvenile fish species in the coastal areas of Sindh.

They also urged an end to discriminatory policies of the Balochistan government that led to many fatal incidents claiming lives of poor fishermen of Sindh .

Chairman Fishermen Cooperation Society (FCS), Syed Tayyab Naqvi, assured that the government would soon resolve their problems.