Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said on Friday that illegal trawling had pushed marine life to the verge of destruction, and warned that continued negligence could lead to its extinction.
Bugti made these remarks during a visit to the Surbunder Ship Breaking Yard in Gwadar, where he called for immediate action to address the issue.
He directed authorities to prepare a detailed report on how the ship-breaking yard could benefit the local community and urged the hiring of consultants to review the project’s potential impact.
‘No decision contrary to the public interest will be made,’ Bugti said. He emphasized the importance of involving local fishermen and addressing their concerns before proceeding with any plans, adding that consultations with elected representatives and community leaders were necessary to develop a viable solution.
Other officials present included Jamaat-e-Islami’s provincial chief and Gwadar lawmaker Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman, Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Communication and Works Secretary Lal Jan Jaffar, Mekran Division Commissioner Dawood Khilji, and Additional Deputy Commissioner Abdul Shakoor.