Fisherwomen rise against river project
Hundreds of women from different parts of the city gathered in Ibrahim Hyderi, demanding that the government immediately cancel the six-canal project on the Indus River. They stressed that this was not just about cultivating agricultural land but a matter of life and death.
On the occasion of International Women's Day, the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) organised a cycling rally near the sea to raise awareness about women's empowerment. Dozens of young girls participated, carrying placards and banners. The women chanted slogans against the ongoing water shortage in the coastal belt of Sindh, stating that they were the most affected by the crisis. They warned that the situation would become even more dire if the government did not withdraw its decision to construct new canals on the Indus River.
"Let it flow naturally!" the protesters chanted, asserting that a nation could only survive and progress if its women were given their due rights.
Addressing the crowd, PFF Chairman Mehran Ali Shah said, "Water is everything for us. The Indus River is everything for us. As fishermen, we cannot survive without water." He called on the government to release Sindh's rightful share of water, as stipulated in the 1991 Water Accord.
He also highlighted the dire situation in Sindh, particularly in coastal areas, where thousands of people were being forced to leave their ancestral villages due to severe water shortages. "Our people are at risk. Our culture is at risk," he warned. Shah further stated that past dam projects had already economically crippled Sindh, and the new canal scheme would only worsen the crisis.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Express Tribune
Fishermen oppose 'national fisheries policy'
The fishermen community has strongly criticised and opposed the formation of fisheries policy at national level, stating that fisheries is clearly a provincial subject, therefore, only provinces can formulate any policy about fishing sector. Talking to The Express Tribune, Chairperson of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Mustafa Mirani said that they have learnt through media that the authorities in the federal government are engaged in formulating a national level fisheries policy. He said that the fishermen community is main stakeholder of fisheries sector but they are not consulted before drafting this policy. "We will not accept any policy that is made against our interests," he warned. It is pertinent to mention that the federal government has circulated a draft of the 'National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy 2025-35' with provincial governments including Sindh and Balochistan. Provincial Secretary for Fisheries and Livestock, Sindh, Kazim Hussain Jatoi confirmed this and informed The Express Tribune that the Sindh government was still preparing its feedback to the proposed policy. According to the proposed policy the federal government shall establish an apex council namely 'Pakistan Fisheries and Aquaculture Council (PFAC)' comprising relevant stakeholders from the centre and the provinces. It will propose amendments to the fisheries policy and legislation to resolve issues in federal-provincial context of fisheries and aquaculture governance. In this draft the Sindh and Balochistan governments are advised to register and regularise all the existing informal unauthorised private jetties and landing sites through specific law, rules and guidelines. "Annual tax, rent and fee will be levied on all such jetties and landing sites for the structure erected inside sea (starting from high water mark)," it stated. According to the draft the Mercantile Marine Department shall register every vessel, except merchant and cargo ships, which intends to operate in country's waters. "The governments of the coastal provinces of Sindh and Balochistan are advised to complement their efforts in establishing a country-level integrated and coherent 'Central Digital Register' for sea-going fishing vessels and harbour crafts by the MMD of the federal government which shall have devolved system arrangements for registration processing at provincial level," it stated. According to the draft, the federal government, in consultation with provincial governments of Sindh and Balochistan, shall rationalise 'One-Licence System' along with 'Benefit Sharing Mechanism' for co-management of capture fisheries in all fishing zones in marine waters of Pakistan including certification for nakhuda and crew. It has also been proposed in the draft that there will be three months ban on fishing, from June to August, instead of existing two months, at sea and in freshwater resources. According to the proposed policy, the federal and provincial governments shall develop and implement dedicated rules to reform or describe the role and governance mechanism regarding social organisational setups like fisheries cooperative societies.
Express Tribune
04-06-2025
- Express Tribune
Govt opens special children's rehab centre
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday inaugurated a rehabilitation centre for children with physical and neurological developmental challenges. The facility was established through collaboration between Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre (MALC), the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD), and the government. The inauguration event was attended by DEPD Secretary Taha Ahmed Farooqi, German Consul General Dr Rüdiger Lotz, Global Health Advisor German Leprosy and TB Relief Association (GLRA) Dr Anil Fasstino, and MALC CEO Mervyn Francis, among other notable figures. Calling the centre a beacon of hope for children with conditions such as autism and Down Syndrome, as well as other physical and neurological challenges, the CM expressed that the government's vision is to provide treatment and opportunities to these children so they may live dignified and fulfilling lives. CM Shah revealed that the centre offers a comprehensive range of services provided by specialists. These include physiotherapy to improve children's physical development, speech therapy to enhance communication, remedial therapy to support cognitive development, behavioural therapy for encouraging constructive behavior, occupational therapy focusing on daily life skills, and a sensory room to help the children with sensory processing. Further, the facility also offers a play area under professional supervision. The CM visited the center, reviewed the facilities, and met with the children. He also stated that the government has allocated 100 acres of land near the Malir Expressway for the establishment of an Inclusive City for people with special needs. The city will provide schools, rehabilitation centres, vocational training institutes, a hospital, a neuropsychiatric ward, and residential facilities, as well as a 20 acre park to offer a safe play space for children with special needs, along with a large building housing offices of various welfare organisations. The CM stated the city would become a model of accessibility and opportunity, where people with disabilities could live independently and contribute actively to society. Meanwhile, responding to a question, CM Shah stated that the provincial budget would be presented on June 13, 2025, with special attention given to the agriculture sector. Further, he urged provincial representation on the boards of K-Electric (KE), and other power distribution companies, so that Sindh's consumers may directly benefit. He also stated the government wants to run Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) and Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) under a public-private partnership model. The CM revealed that discussions with the federal government on the matter are ongoing, and while progress is being made, results will take time.
Express Tribune
02-06-2025
- Express Tribune
Punishment must be proportionate: SC
The Supreme Court has ruled that proportionality must be applied with discipline, care and sensitivity to context, especially in cases involving fundamental rights and human dignity. In a service matter involving a sub-inspector, the apex court stressed that the principle of proportionality offers a structured framework for judicial review of administrative actions. The four-page judgment, authored by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, explained that the principle of proportionality provides a structured framework for judicial review of administrative actions. "Developed across various constitutional jurisdictions, it involves a four-step test: (i) the measure must pursue a legitimate aim; (ii) be suitable to achieve that aim; (iii) be necessary, in that no less restrictive alternative exists; and (iv) strike a fair balance between the measure's impact on individual rights and the public interest." This court has recently introduced and adopted this four-stage test to assess the legality and fairness of administrative and disciplinary decisions. Such a framework ensures that any interference with rights is justified, necessary, and lawful," reads the four-page order. The judgment was passed in a service matter where the Punjab Service Tribunal had partially allowed the appeal of a sub-inspector and modified the penalty from a two-stage to a one-stage reduction in pay through an order dated February 2, 2016. According to the tribunal, while an investigation had been conducted, the prosecution "failed to produce even a shred of evidence" to substantiate the allegations. A division bench of the apex court, led by Justice Shah, heard the sub-inspector's appeal against the tribunal's ruling. The order noted that despite these clear findings, the tribunal opted only to reduce the penalty rather than exonerate the petitioner. "It appears that the Tribunal relied, albeit implicitly, on the principle of proportionality, finding the original penalty disproportionate to the alleged misconduct. However, this application was both legally flawed and logically inconsistent with its own conclusion when no misconduct was established. The Tribunal failed to properly exercise its discretion under Section 5 of the Punjab Service Tribunals Act, 1974, which empowers it to confirm, set aside, vary, or modify impugned orders. While the Tribunal has authority to vary the punishment in appropriate cases, such discretion must be exercised judiciously grounded in the record, legal standards, and principles of fairness," the order stated. The court noted that judicial interference in disciplinary penalties is only warranted when the punishment is "arbitrary, perverse, or based on irrelevant considerations". "Once the Tribunal found that the allegations were wholly unsubstantiated, the only lawful outcome was to exonerate the petitioner." The judgment further elaborated that proportionality fosters a stable and systematic method for constitutional adjudication.
