Illegal Occupation Over Sweet Water, Lakes Not To Be Tolerated: Minister

Illegal occupation over sweet water, lakes not to be tolerated: Minister

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Dec, 2016 ) : Sindh Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Muhammad Ali Malkani has said that the Government of Sindh is fully implementing the improved fishing license system and taking all concrete steps to remove the illegal occupation of influentials over the lakes and sweet water for benefit of poor fishermen.

This he said while addressing the 15 member delegation of Pakistan Fishers Folk Forum who called on him led by its Chairman Muhammad Ali Shah at his office here on Tuesday, said a statement. Secretary Livestick and Fisheries Ghulam Hussain Memon, Director General Fisheries Ghulam Muhammad Mehar, Director Fisheries Zahoor Abbasi and representatives of Pakistan Fishers Folk Forum and officials of the Fisheries Department also present.

Chairman Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum Muhammad Ali Shah and other representatives apprised and highlighted the genuine grievances/ problems and issues pertaining to fishermen and fisheries community including removing of illegal occupation of influential over lakes and sweet water, water shortage and its disposal by the irrigation department, proper implantation of licensing system, geological and satellite survey of all sweet water.

The Minister while giving sympathetic consideration and assured that all genuine grievances of the poor fishermen and fisheries community would be resolved.

The Government of Sindh is working on it to minimize their suffering and took concrete steps for their development and improved life standard, he said.

He said that PPP Government was took a positive step, passed a bill from assembly regarding licensing system and betterment of fishermen. The Minister further assured that Government would take all possible measures to protect the rights of fisheries community and prepared welfare projects for their well being.

He also said that satellite and geological survey and mapping of all lakes and sweet water would be carried out and coordinated efforts should be taken with Irrigation revenue, Agriculture, Forest and other all stake holders to device a proper mechanism and strategy to ameliorate the lives of poor fishermen and its community at grass root level on priority.

Secretary Livestock and Fisheries Ghulam Hussain Memon has said that the Department would carry out the development projects for the welfare of poor fishermen. Data of all lakes and sweet water would be gathered with further improvements, he added.

He directed the DG Fisheries and other field officers to proper vigil and monitoring over all fishing purpose and remove the illegal occupation of influential and provide remedies and relief to the local fishermen for further implementation of fishing licence system, he added.