Our Achievements

End of Rangers' Occupation on Fishing Grounds of Sindh (Rangers Retreat)

In 1977, Thar rangers wrote a letter to the government to lease them waters in Badin as they can fulfill nutritive needs of army men. The government leased them four major lakes.

Announcements to abolition the Contract system on Inland fisheries in Sindh

In Pakistan, Sindh province is highly rich with natural resources like minerals, agriculture, forest and fish species which not only meet the need of the province but support it in export as well promotes GDP of Pakistan. Among these resources, sweet inland water bodies are very much significant. On the records, in Sindh, there are 1209 fishing waters, including ponds, depressions, reservoirs, canals and Indus River. Millions of fisher and semi-fishers draw their livelihood from these fishing grounds of the province.

Highlighting Issue of the Indus Delta

The Indus Delta is the 7th largest delta in the world having 17 Creeks. It spreads on 52800 Sq/k.m extending from Karachi to Run of Kush. But it has lost its wealth and life due to state’s water management policies and ignorant attitude not only towards lower riparian but also to the significance of delta and it ecosystem. The major causes of degradation are cuts, barrages, dams and diversions on Indus River. These constructions have reduced the inflow of fresh water into Indus Deltaic region.

Struggle Against the Deep Sea Factory Trawlers

Pakistan’s total marine fleet of 22,000 vessels – which includes local boats, mid-sized locally flagged trawlers, and large foreign trawlers – took an estimated total catch of 400,500 tones in 2003. The government claims that not more than 25 licenses have been issued to deep-sea trawlers, but actually more than 50 big trawlers are operating in Pakistani waters. While the government receives money from royalties and licenses from trawlers. The local fisherfolk, however, argue that local fishing communities derive no benefits from the export trade.

Initiatives on the issue of detained fishermen

The issue of detained fishermen appeared to the top issue among other at PFF. Detention of poor fishermen by either side of the country is an open human rights violation. With the detention of a fisherman, whole family goes into the sheds of unending miseries because mostly the bread earners go for fishing and are captured by the either by Indian marine security agencies or Pakistani. Because there is no demarcation in the Arabian Sea to which these fishers follow. In case of high tides, cyclones and loss of routs, they strand into the sea and are easily caught by the agencies.

Struggle in Sanghar after the announcement of abolition of the contract system and PFF’s victory

In order to understand this account, viewer is advised to read the text under the heading announcements to abolish the contract system on inland fisheries in Sindh at http://pff.org.pk/node/52.

KPT beat a hasty retreat

In the absence of a sustainable fisheries policy in Pakistan, departments directly and indirectly associated with the fisheries hit the fishers when they get any chance of it. Time after time the institutions and individuals rise up against poor fishers. As these days the DHA (Defence Housing Authority) is persistent to harming the fishers by hook or by crook. A month ago, Karachi Port Trust (KPT) authorities commenced doing the same that the DHA has been doing.