KARACHI, Oct 15: Sindh Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Zahid Ali Bhurgari dismissed on Wednesday reports of privatisation of the Karachi Fish Harbour.

He said the fisheries was a provincial subject and the Sindh government had no plan to privatise it as it was the main source of livelihood of the local fishermen.

Talking to newsmen after the handing-over ceremony of ambulances to local fishermen associations, the minister said elections for a new board of directors of the Fishermen’s Cooperative Society would be held soon after the completion of the society’s membership. The administrator of the FCS, Mohammad Jafar Khawaja, told the newsmen on the occasion that the new membership campaign of the KFH would begin on Nov 1.

Mr Bhurgari said being democratic people “we cannot bypass the election process in the society and we keenly desire that the FCS board be made functional”.

He said the present government, voted to power by the people, was running the country democratically with the support of other parties, and added that it wanted that the FCS affairs be looked after by its elected representatives.

The minister said the government was committed to solving their problems and it would also honour its commitments made to the fishermen community, which had been neglected in the past. He added that the PPP had always served the interests of the fishermen, who were faced with numerous problems.

Mr Bhurgari said the government was giving top priority to the fishermen community by providing them with health, educational and housing facilities. In this regard, he mentioned the model villages being developed in the coastal areas of Sindh. He said 1,000 housing units were being built at Ketty Bandar, Karochan and Shah Bandar, which would be handed over to fishermen after completion.

He urged the fishermen to adopt modern fishing technology so as to compete with the global market, saying that efforts should be made to make the harbour clean according to the international standards to attract the European countries to buy our seafood at international competitive prices.

In this regard, the minister advised the fishermen to start modification of their boats and that 70 per cent of the cost would be borne by the provincial government. He said the government envisaged modification of 200 to 300 boats before inviting EU inspectors to examine the standards maintained at the harbour.

Mr Bhurgari said all-out efforts were being made for the upgrade of the harbour so that the European Union ban might be lifted. He said that at a recent meeting with Federal Minister for Food and Livestock, he had discussed the issue of deep-sea fishing.

Earlier, the minister inaugurated the handing-over ceremony of a speedboat ambulance and two other ambulances — one for Ketty Bandar and the other for the Shamspir, Baba and Bhit islands for shifting of patients to city hospitals during emergency while the speedboat ambulance would facilitate transportation of patients from the islands to Keamari.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Bhurgari said the present government was fully aware of the problems of fishermen and was keen to solve them. He said the government was spending billions of rupees on the welfare of fishermen and development of their villages.

Earlier, FCS administrator Mohammad Jafar Khwaja briefed the audience on the welfare activities of the KFC since he took its charge.

Provincial Transport Minister Akhtar Husain Jadoon, Minister for Cooperation Abdul Jalil Memon, MPAs Dr Salim Memon and Haji Usman Jalbani also spoke on the occasion.

Also present on the occasion were Managing-Director of KFHA Ejaz Mangi, former vice-chairman Abu Zar Mariwara, President of Mole-holders Association Babu Ismail.

Indian delegation

An Indian fishermen delegation, led by Velgi Masani, called on the Sindh Fisheries Minister at the Karachi Fish Harbour and discussed matters pertaining to the imprisoned fishermen in both countries.

Mr Masani claimed that nearly 443 Indian fishermen and 87 boats were detained by Pakistan authorities.