KARACHI:Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, showing concern over commercial activities around Charna Island, has said that such activities that would endanger precious marine life were against the national and international laws.
Whales, dolphin, turtles and other marine life was available in abundant near Charna Island, so they should be saved by terming it marine protected area (MPA), demanded PFF Chairman Muhammad Ali Shah in a statement issued on Sunday.
Showing his concern on development of an LNG terminal on Charna Island, Shah said that such projects would prove disastrous for the island. He informed that there was a project to develop a pipeline from the old Mubarak Village to Charna Island. A fishermen village would suffer due to it and beautiful beach would become a dirty coast.
He called this project against humanity and environment. “The local fishermen have the first right on Charna Island, where they have been finding their livelihood since centuries. Now, fishermen of Sindh and Balochistan are being restricted from fishing near Charna Island,” he said.
Fishermen of Mubarak Village, Manjhar village, Allah Bano, Mann, Ghulam Gador village, Qadir Bux Gador village, Abbas Gador village and Hawks Bay’s old fishermen are not only denied fishing but they are also barred from anchoring at Charna Island.
He said Charna Island was property of fishermen of Balochistan and they would not let the federal government to occupy it forcefully. Calling development of LNG terminal on Charna Island illegal, Shah warned the federal government to stop such activities, accept fishermen’s right on this island and no construction activities be taken on.
He said that constitutional right of Sindh and Balochistan governments should be accepted on their islands and no new legislation be taken into account. “Basic facilities should be provided to old fishermen villages of Sindh and Balochistan and their livelihood should be protected,” he said.