Illegal construction of canals will further devastate the fishermen community in Sindh
- We are the indigenous people of this great civilization, and we are struggling to survive. We are dying slowly
Sanghar, Sindh
The fishermen and women of Sindh, struggling for their rights, in a protest gathering on November 21, condemned the illegal construction of canals from Indus River in Punjab province of Pakistan.
“We demand the immediate release of our brothers detained in Indian jails. We demand the release of fresh water into the Indus River to save the mangroves, our culture, and our fisheries. We demand that the government officially recognize fishermen as laborers.”
These were the resounding calls at a charged gathering near the Chotiari Reservoir in Sanghar district, where hundreds of fishermen convened to demand urgent action on their pressing issues. Among their concerns were encroachments on freshwater bodies, a threat to their livelihoods.
“It’s not just men who suffer because of climate change and man-made disasters but women and children as well,” said Yasmeen Shah, vice-chairperson of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF).
“Try to understand the pain we women feel when our men struggle to support their families,” she added, highlighting that many fishermen have been illegally detained by Indian forces.
PFF Chairman Mehran Shah condemned the illegal construction of canals, and warned, “This will further devastate the fishermen community in Sindh.” He pointed out that hundreds of thousands of coastal residents face immense hardships due to a shortage of water in the Indus River. “Does the government want us to die?” he questioned passionately, urging authorities to take immediate steps to protect the community.
General Secretary of the PFF, Ramzan Mallah, appealed to the global community: “On this International Day, we urge the world to recognize the consequences and impact of climate change on fishing communities. We are the indigenous people of this great civilization, and we are struggling to survive. We are dying slowly,” he said, calling for international solidarity and action. (PR)
Read: Fishermen of Sindh stage rally, sit-in for rights
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