Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) has shown concerns over the last protest by what it called a "so-called" fishermen association, saying the agitation may hit implementation of the proposed master plan to develop fish harbour. Officials said on Saturday the protest are aimed at hampering the execution of master plan, which will consequently scale down the country's seafood trade growth.
The KFHA has revitalised its working strategy with a professional approach based on fisheries management, quality development and safe food, they said, adding that the initiatives are being taken keeping in view the latest development in global, regional and local level fisheries sectors.
"To achieve the goal, a Master Plan of the Karachi Fish Harbour had been prepared by M/s. Nespak under which major development is taking place," they said. They said the plan is about construction of auction halls K-3, K-4 and K-5 on modern lines of global standard. Further, they said, the KFHA is going to undertake a number of projects under the Master Plan.
"These projects are reverse osmosis plant, fire fighting system, flake ice plants, weigh bridge, fiber glass boat manufacturing plant, seafood processing plant, concrete road network, sewerage treatment plant, ice plant and a new jetty. "The Master Plan has been approved by Board of Directors KFHA as well as Government of Sindh. The government is expected to release first tranche of Rs 50 million for execution of Master Plan," they said.
Denying the allegation by protestors of illegal allotments of land at fish harbour, the officials said the KFHA made allotments for establishment of flake ice plants, fiber glass boat manufacturing plant, seafood processing plants, besides 41 plots have also been allotted to bona fide boat builders after approval by Board of Directors.
"Allotment of plots was made to the highest bidders in a transparent manner as per rules and regulations. After implementation of Master Plan, employment opportunities will be opened for locals," they said. They said the last protest held on Thursday was aimed to create hindrance in smooth execution of Master Plan. "A majority of protestors were land grabbers and encroachers," they alleged.
They said whenever the KFHA makes attempts to enforce regulations and take action against rules violators such anti-development forces try to sabotage the whole exercise and threaten the government's writ. "It is further clarified that as per the KFHA Ordinance 1984, the KFHA is the sole owner of the Karachi Fish Harbour and the Managing Director KFHA is playing its due role in accordance to the said ordinance," the officials said.
They said the Sindh government continues to take a number of initiatives to upgrade Karachi fish harbour. From 2007-2012, the officials said the government undertook a "Rehabilitation & Renovation of Karachi Fish Harbour" scheme under annual development programme at a cost of Rs 555.951 million.
In line with the scheme, they said the KFHA executed modification of 539 large, small and Hora boats according to the global specification. "Plastic fish crates, plastic baskets, insulated plastic containers, stainless steel hydraulic hand pallet trucks, on-board flake ice plants, forklift trucks, plastic pallets were provided to the fishermen, boat owners, auctioneers and fisheries labourers to facilitate them to carry out smooth landing of seafood catch and its supply into the market, they said.
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