Lifejackets, gloves purchase limited to papers in Fisheries department: Langove
Staff Reporter:
QUETTA: Chairman Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Balochistan Assembly, Akhtar Hussain Langove expressed serious concern over rising corruption in the Fisheries department. “Purchase of lifejackets, gloves and other safety equipment mere limited to papers”, Mr. Langove said.
The PAC chairman presided over a meeting with regard to the Fisheries department Balochistan. Mr. Langove claimed that the provincial government has failed to overcome the curse of corruption in the province.
In 2015, the department purchased lifejackets and gloves worth millions of rupees
In 2015, the department purchased lifejackets and gloves worth millions of rupees. However, ground realities prove irregularities in the purchase of safety equipment, the meeting noted.
He ordered the formation of a sub-committee to probe into the alleged corruption scandal within the Fisheries department. Malik Naseer Shahwani, the parliamentary leader of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal), Zabid Reki of JUI (F), and other legislators participated in the meeting.
Meeting reviews performance of Fisheries department
The meeting reviewed the overall performance of the Fisheries department Balochistan. The meeting expressed anger over the non-implementation of orders of PAC regarding the Fisheries department.
Akhtar Hussain Langove lamented that the department has failed to utilize a 73 percent development budget to comply with the orders of the PAC. “We cannot leave poor fishermen at the mercy of department”, Mr. Langove said. The meeting decided to keep continue monitoring and evaluation of the department in view of growing corruption cases.
70 percent of peoples jobs are linked with fishingÂ
In Pakistan’s port city of Gwadar, over 70 percent of peoples’ jobs are linked with fishing. From grandfathers to grandsons, fishing is their profession and sole source of income.
Pakistan has almost 11,00 long coastline inhabited by fishermen living along with small and big cities of the country. Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province in terms of the area has a 750km long coast at the Arabian sea.
Lifejackets, gloves purchase limited to papers in Fisheries department: Langove
