Fishing in Sindh: Benazir card replaces contractual, license system, Supreme Court told

The Supreme Court on Monday was informed that the government of Sindh had abolished contractual and license system and had introduced Benazir cards for free fishing. Appearing on notice, Sindh Advocate General, Yousuf Leghari, said that Benazir cards were being issued to the fishermen for free fishing.
A three-member bench, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmed and Justice Mahmood Akhter Shahid Siddiqui, heard the suo moto case.
The court had taken a suo moto notice against the contractual and license system for fishing in Sindh. Leghari presented a report before the court, stating that the Sindh government had abolished the contractual and license system for fishing in the province. About 5,551 licenses, issued by the previous government for fishing, had been cancelled, he added.
He said the cards have been issued to 7,500 poor fishermen, whereas 5,000 applications were being processed. He said the abolition of contractual and license system for fishing would end discrimination and all the fishermen would be able to earn their livelihood without any discrimination.
The court termed the report satisfactory and disposed of the matter. Earlier, a representative of fishing contractors told the court that the contract and license system for fishing was generating over Rs 30 million per year income for the government. But the court disposed of the matter observing that everyone had the right of free fishing.