The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) Hyderabad organized a large rally to mark the week of action to celebrate 'World Fisheries Day'. The rally started from the old campus to Press Club. The Rally was aimed to highlight the social, economic and livelihood issues of the fishing community and demanded from the ruling thoughts to take efforts for the betterment of fishing community. The rally was participated by a large number of fishing community members, peasants, civil society, students and journalists.
Speaking on the occasion PFF Vice Chairman Mustafa Mirani said that World Fisheries Day is celebrated on 21 November every year worldwide. He added that PFF has also been recognizing this day since its inception. Continuing this tradition, PFF has planned to mark the whole week in order to highlight the issues of marginalized fishing community. He informed that this year the theme of the celebration is to highlight the issues of Blue Economy and Water-grabbing. Corporate sector is busy in exploiting the ocean resources and coastal land in the interest of their business which has far reaching implications on the marine life, small scale fisheries and indigenous fishermen.
Azad Mirwahi said that hundreds of inland water bodies are under the illegal occupation of the political influential ones despite of abolition of contract systems and occupation on fisheries resources in public waters.
He appealed the Fisheries Minister and Sindh Government to take immediate action against those who have illegally controlled the public water bodies and have made the lives of fishermen miserable.
Other prominent speakers of the event included Majeed Mallah, Khizar Mallah, Aslam Mallah, Khastoori Bheel, Rehana Solangi and advocate Qadir Fazal Memon.
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