KFHA approves deployment of MSA, Rangers' check posts at fish harbour

In a bid to curb human trafficking and maintaining law and order, Karachi Fish Harbor Authority (KFHA) has approved its long-awaited plan to deploy Maritime Security Agency (MSA) and setting up Rangers' check-posts at the harbor. KFHA had earlier approached Pakistan Navy for deployment of its marines at the harbor following a terrorist attack on Mehran Airbase, which made the authority officials to review the security situation.
Some stakeholders of the harbour have also shown reservations over the deployment of Rangers for some reasons. According to officials of KFHA, "the security plan will now ensure deployment of MSA and setting up of Rangers check-posts to curb illegal and anti social activities like human trafficking and smuggling besides maintaining law and order inside the harbor."
The decision was taken during KFHA board of directors' meeting which held here to approve the long-awaited security plan under the chair of Sindh Fisheries Minister and Chairman KFHA. The board also approved a plan to undertake anti-encroachment drive against the illegal occupants of the authority's land.
The minister also hinted at approaching Sindh Home Department in order to declare the fish harbor arms free zone and impose ban on rallies and protests there. He opined that protests demonstration and other such activities in the Red Zone is against the national interest.
Managing Director KFHA Abdul Ghani Jokhio briefed the board regarding the authority's move of saving the marine juvenile species. In this regard, he said, the authority had recently carried out an exercise in high-seas to test the fishing nets so that the exact and legal size of mesh could be set as a benchmark for fishing. "The second phase of the net testing exercise will be carried out during the next week," he said.
The MD also told the meeting about the authority's plan to scale down the pollution level at fisheries to improve environmental conditions and in this regard truckers had been asked to ensure smooth supplies of trash fish without leaking dirt at the site, they said. The trash fish truckers have been told to make the transportation of trash fish without destroying environment with leak-proof supplies within 15 days Jokhio informed the board about the rising lawlessness at the fisheries, as illegal activities continued unchecked.
"The display of arms, threats to businessmen and minting extortion are alarmingly rising because of the political and social support to anti-fisheries elements," the officials cited the MD KFHA as saying. He also urged the concerned quarters to pay attention to the problems of Karachi Fish Harbour particularly law and order situation, saying the harbour was an economic hub which needed a peaceful environment for seafood business.