The local fishermen on Thursday expressed resentment at the fresh fuel price hike by the government, saying the move would further increase their financial problems. They said the fresh fuel price increase would scale down their activities because of their weak financial strength, adding they were not receiving good catch price on the local market to support their long trip sea voyages.
A large number of boats were still standing idle with Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) because the government had stopped funds to the modification process, they said. They added increase in the input cost would bring about grounding of a large number of boats.
They said their activities on the sea had already been low and the fresh move would further scale them down, expressing fears that a large number of seafarers would become unemployed, resultantly. They said their last winter season at sea had been very unproductive in terms of fish catch for rough sea and cold weather. They further said fishermen had been planning to make some financial recovery in spring season with increased trips but the fuel surge dashed their hopes.
They said hundreds of boats had been staying at moorages because of the hostile weather in winter, of which many were expected to remain still at the shore for not affording cost of voyages. They also complained about the KFHA attitude was unsupportive, which created difficulties for small trip boats to make their smooth sail from the harbour. They also urged the government to protect the Keamari cost from falling polluted, as the unloading of chemicals and coal dust from vessels at the Keamari seaport was being done in open space.
The move has been creating problems for residents whom are largely exposed to the receive injuries to their lungs in particular, besides threatening marine life at the coast. They said the government should also clamp down on industrial units producing chemical hazardous substance into the Lyari River which fell eventually into the sea.
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