Web Reporter
Gwadar: In the coastal city of Gwadar, Balochistan, Ghafur Hot, the district president of the National Party, addressed a protest rally emphasizing the harsh living conditions of local fishermen due to the negligence of the government and the Fisheries Department.
Ghafur Hot claimed that, instead of taking action against illegal trawlers, the Fisheries Department has started harassing local fishermen under the pretext of collecting bribes, stopping their boats and illegally demanding money.
Gwadar and the Makran Belt are regions where the economy largely depends on marine resources.
For generations, the sea has been a vital source of livelihood for local fishermen, but in recent years, illegal trawling and governmental apathy have severely impacted their lives.
Ghafur Hot stated, “The Fisheries Department has left the Gwadar coastline at the mercy of the trawler mafia, who are plundering our marine resources.
There is now no livelihood left for our fishermen.”
During the protest, Ghafur Hot also stated that the government had deliberately withheld salaries for six months from the employees of the Pasni Fish Harbor, leading to severe financial hardship.
He added, “These rulers are indulging in luxuries while failing to provide basic amenities for us.”
Ghafur Hot also voiced strong opposition to the proposed shipyard project near Gwadar in Surbandar, stating that the project would severely impact the fishing industry and increase pollution in the sea, further worsening the lives of local fishermen.
“We strongly oppose this project and have promised the public that our protest will continue until all issues in Khintani are resolved,” he said.
The Gwadar and Makran Belt, located in the southwestern part of Balochistan, is a strategically important region of Pakistan.
The local economy is heavily reliant on marine resources, particularly fishing. The Gwadar port is considered crucial for Pakistan’s future economic development, especially with the increasing involvement of China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
However, local communities, particularly fishermen, argue that their rights are being overlooked in large-scale development projects.
The coastal strip of Gwadar is being recognized globally as a significant trade hub, but this development has not proven beneficial for local residents.
Many local fishermen claim that government projects have made their lives and livelihoods more difficult.
Ghafur Hot and other National Party leaders have vowed to continue their fight for the rights of poor fishermen in Gwadar, pledging to remain in the field at all costs.
They have also promised to exert pressure on the government to improve the conditions of Gwadar’s fishermen.
For the local communities in Gwadar and the Makran Belt, this is a decisive moment, as safeguarding their rights and achieving economic stability has become a matter of survival.
