Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) sole legislator in Sindh Assembly asked the provincial government on Tuesday to step up efforts to help the families of windstorm-affected fishermen because dozens of the seafarers are still missing while 60 died in the maritime calamity.
On the private members day, MMA's lawmaker Syed Abdul Rasheed, on the eve of World Labour Day, raised the issue of abandoned fishermen, who suffered badly from windstorm this month. He said neither the government nor the maritime agency stepped up to rescue them. "From Keti Bandar to Lyari, all the fishermen families are affected by the tragedy," he told the provincial legislature.
He said that the windstorm that capsized at least 50 fishing boats killing 60 fishermen. He said dozens of others had gone missing. He said that ahead of World Labour Day on Wednesday no one cared about the fishermen.
Rasheed showed his deep concerns, saying that the issue is 'grave' that needs an immediate response from the government. He said families of the affected fishermen are worried.
"The maritime and other concerned authorities never extended their help to the affected fishermen," he said, adding that once the bodies of the missing fishermen [feared dead] are found on the seas then everyone would reach for photo session and media coverage. He appealed to the Sindh Chief Minister to step up his efforts to help the families and recover the missing fishermen.
The house also sent two private amendment bills to the assembly's select committee. They included Sindh Control of Narcotic Substance (Amendment) Bill, 2018 by PTI's Rabia Azfar and second one by Rana Ansar of MQM on the Sindh Water Management (Amendment) Bill 2018. The concerned committee will send back the bills to the legislature after four weeks of deliberations. The house was adjourned until May 2, 2019 at 10 a.m.