People of the coast

The fishing industry contributes significantly towards the national economy. The imports of fish are negligible, while the value of exports of fishery products is about $196 million every year. But it is unfortunate that the federal and Sindh governments have no policy for the uplift of fishing communities. Residents of Karachi’s 1,200km-long coastal area, which stretches from Mubarak Village to Lath Bashti with an estimated population of 1.5 million, are suffering due to the government’s apathy, as no development projects are launched in the area to mitigate the problems of the locals.

Many of these villages lack tap water, sanitation and drainage facilities, and water tankers are the only means of catering to the water needs of the people. Most of the villages do not have electricity and jetty facilities, while roads infrastructure in these areas is in a dilapidated condition. Healthcare facilities are not satisfactory in the areas and hundreds of women and children have died due to lack of healthcare facilities. The government must take a look into the matter.

Sarfraz Haroon

Karachi