PAKISTAN : Les pêcheurs demandent l'abolition du système de contrat

By Dawn Report
Dawn - 17 January 2005

Badin : On the call of the Pakistan Fisher folk Forum, fishermen took out processions in different parts of Sindh on Sunday to pressurize the authorities to abolish the contract system and restore licence system for fishing in sea, lakes and wetlands in the province.

A large number of fishermen from the coastal area took out a procession here to protest against the Sindh government for re-imposing contract system for fishing in the district waters.

Led by district chief of the forum, Mithan Mallah, chairman of the District Public Safety and Police Complaints Commission Dr Aziz Memon and union council nazims Essa Mallah and Karim Channa, the fishermen marched on Shah Latif Road to reach the press club.

They were raising slogans against Provincial Adviser on Fisheries Jadim Mangrio for his disdainful attitude towards the fishermen and demanding abolition of the contract system, restoration of licence system and declaration of sea as a free zone for fishing.

SANGHAR: Fishermen took out a procession here which culminated at the press club. Carrying banners and placards, the protesters raised slogans against the contract system and in favour of the licence system.

Speaking on the occasion, Pir Bux Mallah, district president of the PFF, and others said that fishermen had been catching fish in the lakes and river in Sindh for centuries and it was their only sources of livelihood. They added that even their children were born in fishing boats.

However, they said that they had been deprived of their inherent right to catch fish in the lakes and river through fishing contracts awarded to influential people. They demand termination of contracts for fishing in the Makhi Lake and the Nara Canal.

THATTA: A large number of fishermen from the Keenjhar and Haleji lakes, wetlands and coastal area took out a procession here to pressurize the authorities to accept their demands. peaking on the occasion, Syed Gulab Shah and others vowed to continue fight for legitimate rights of fishing community till the acceptance of their demands.

DADU: Hundreds of fishermen from the Manchhar Lake and wetlands in the district staged a demonstration outside the local press club to protest against contract system for fishing.

Speaking to the demonstrators, vice president of the forum Ghulam Mustafa Mirani demanded that the government should abolish the contract system and stop release of saline water from the Main Nara Valley Drain in the Manchhar Lake because it killed fishes.