Sindh is blessed with thousands of natural freshwater lakes. It is estimated that freshwater lakes account for 65 percent of total freshwater fisheries in Pakistan and over 120 species of local freshwater fish species are from Sindh. Those lakes breed beautiful birds, fish, and flora and fauna species in a rich ecosystem. Apart from this, thousands of local fishing communities in coastal areas such as Thatta, Sujawal and Badin districts are dependent on fishing for their livelihoods.
Sindh is Pakistan’s richest province in terms of aquatic resources. It has the Arabian Sea, a huge productive estuary; the well-known river Indus; natural depressions; irrigation canals; water logged areas and their fisheries play an important role in the national economy.
Sadly, Sindh’s water bodies are being controlled by powerful groups, often with political influence. Like always, the rich and powerful are free to further deprive poor people in this country.
Hundreds of natural lakes in Sindh are illegally occupied. In this regards, Pakistan Fisher folk Forum (PFF) is one of the strongest social movements in Pakistan struggling for the Mallah communities and their rights.It has been struggling for the rights of fishing communities throughout Pakistan for the last 20 years.
Prior to this, PFF with the support of millions of fishermen/women struggled untiringly for ten years on contract system of about 1209 natural water reservoirs. As a result of that struggle, in 2011 Sindh Assembly passed the law of act 1980, and it declared the occupation of freshwater bodies and lakes illegal. In addition to this, the Sindh government also abolished the contract system on sweet water lakes. Which means that local fishing communities were finally permitted to fish freely so they could earn a living.
Sindh is Pakistan’s richest province in terms of aquatic resources. It has the Arabian Sea, a huge productive estuary; the well-known river Indus; natural depressions; irrigation canals and water logged areas. Their fisheries play an important role in the national economy
Unfortunately, barely after a few years of obliterating the contract system, once again provincial minister of fisheries, local feudal lords, and illegal control mafia and land grabbers have occupied about 600 fresh water bodies leaving poor fishing communities in extreme poverty and on the brink of starvation. Their due rights over the natural lakes on which they have relied on for centuries, is being snatched by the powerful.
Owing fear of these influentials, hundreds of local fishing families have already migrated to other areas where they feel safe and can find other sources of livelihood.
Nonetheless, thousands of communities still live on the embankments of natural lakes in Sindh and are striving for their legitimate rights and demanding that the government rid the lakes of those occupying them illegally.
On this milieu, PPF chairman Muhammad Ali Shah a few months ago while visiting the Babli Dhand in district Sujawal was abducted alongwith a colleague. His colleague was beaten badly by the abductors, who seemed to be locals. The crux of that matter is that Dhand being controlled illegally by a local politician.The lake covers about thirty thousand acres, and according to sources half of that is controlled by this‘leader’.
That no action has been taken against him means that despite the PFF’s victory a few years ago, this country’s impoverished fishermen still have no rights.
The writer is a development professional. He may be contacted at [email protected]
Published in Daily Times, May 25th 2018.