Fishermen end protest at Karachi port as their demands accepted

Movement of ships restored at Karachi port

KARACHI, Feb 23, 2022- Following acceptance of demands the fishermen ended their protest and the movement of ships has also been restored at Karachi port.

The demands were accepted in a meeting of the concerned agencies with the 10-member committee of fishermen of Karachi.

According to sources in the Fishermen’s Cooperative Society, an important meeting of the concerned agencies was held with the 10-member fishermen’s committee in which the demands of the fishermen were accepted.

The meeting was attended by Director General Maritime Security Agency, DG Pakistan Coast Guard, Chairman KPT, Federal Adviser on Maritime Affairs, Fishermen Cooperative Society Administrator Shahid Bhatti, representatives of Sindh Trawler Association, Factory Owners Association and other organizations.

According to sources, the main demand of the fishermen was accepted according to which the Maritime Security Agency will not take any action against the fishermen after 12 nautical miles from the beach and the fishermen will have complete freedom to work.

Fishermen block Karachi port

According to sources, after accepting the demands, work has been started on Karachi Fishermen Cooperative Society. Fishermen have removed the launches and opened the channel. After that, the movement of ships has also been restored at Karachi port.

Protesting fishermen have blockaded Pakistan’s busiest port Karachi, assembling trawlers across the main channel to halt all shipping in and out, officials said on Wednesday.
Foreign media also reported that the government on Wednesday said it was negotiating with the protesters.

“I hope talks to resolve the issue will resume on Wednesday afternoon,” Mahmood Maulvi, adviser to the Prime Minister Imran Khan on Maritime Affairs, told a foreign news agnecy.

An earlier round of talks failed on Tuesday, he said.

The protesters are fishermen from Sindh province who oppose restrictions on them entering the waters off neighboring Balochistan province.