The federal government's move to make the Korangi fish harbour fully operational has received a serious setback because fishermen and boat owners have refused to shift their boats on a permanent basis to Korangi, sources in fisheries department said on Friday.
They said that fishermen are unwilling to do so in spite of the government's pressure, because they think Korangi fish harbour will be expensive for them to continue their operation. The government targets some 500 boats to shift from Karachi to Korangi fish harbour to make it fully operational.
They said that the Korangi fish harbour is located at a longer distance as compared to Karachi fish harbour which will increase fuel costs and also lacks basic amenities including potable water. The security risks are high and government has no plan to protect the fishermen against thieves and criminals. Seafood processing plants and ice factory are also located at Karachi fish harbour.
Besides all this, the fishermen have established their businesses in Karachi harbour since long and the government has not so far promised financial benefits to them if they change the place, sources said. Fishing boat operates in Balochistan coastal belt will have to travel a longer distance to Korangi fish harbour and this will increase the cost.
In this regard, an important meeting of officials from Minfal and Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) will be held on September 9 to find ways and means to settle the issue, they said. Commissioner Minfal Muhammad Hayat, additional secretary Minfal Taufiq Ahmed Faeq, MD Korangi Ashiq Hussain Memon, MD KFHA, Waheed Ahmed, secretary fisheries and livestock Shoaib Ahmed Siddique are likely to attend the meeting, they added.
The other setback for local fishermen will be an uncomfortable reach to jetties at Korangi fish harbour, which are built at a height primarily for deep-sea trawlers, they said. At present, Karachi fish harbour is congested with over 20,000 fishing boats, of them only 200 boats are operational and the rest are either abandoned or used once in a while, they said.
Although, Sindh government is persistently seeking the hand-over of Korangi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) to make it a part of Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA), the federal government is unwilling to forsake hand over its control, they said. President of Bonafide Fishermen and Boat Owners Welfare Association, Asif Bhatti said that fishermen have been invited to the September 9 meeting however he will resist the government's boat shifting move.
The sea lords have a complete hold on the affairs of Korangi fishermen, which will put a negative impact on the business of new stakeholders, he expressed apprehensions, saying that the government's move will produce no significant results for Karachi bound fishermen.
He asked the government should facilitate the fishermen of Karachi harbour at their original place of business, and should avoid creating hurdles for them. He said that it will be difficult for the fishermen to find buyers for their catch at Korangi harbour, as new venue of business for them.