Pakistan: Gwadar's Baloch people protest against illegal fishing by Chinese trawlers

Balochistan: Hundreds of people in Pakistan`s Gwadar on Sunday (August 22) staged a demonstration against illegal fishing by Chinese trawlers.

"People in Gawadar protesting against the Chinese trollers fishing illegally in Gawadar and Pasni. #ChinaHandaoffBalochistan", tweeted Munir Mengal, President of Baloch Voice Association NGO based in Paris.

People in Gawadar protesting against the Chinese trollers fishing illegally in Gawadar and Pasni. #ChinaHandaoffBalochistan pic.twitter.com/x0LmKRPe74 — Munir Mengal (@MMengal) August 21, 2021

People gathered were shouting slogans like "Till the time labourers are distressed, the battle will go on", "Take a step, we are with you."This is not the first time the residents have protested against the Chinese trawlers. Earlier in July, hundreds of fishermen, political workers and members of civil society staged a protest to cancel the fishing licences of Chinese trawlers to protect the livelihood of the Gwadar fishermen.

The National Party and Baloch Student Organisation had called for the protest rally and sit-in in front of the Gwadar Press Club against the Imran Khan government`s move.

The participants of the rally marched on the roads of the coastal town and later staged the sit-in against the Imran Khan government decision to grant Chinese trawlers fishing rights in Gwadar by issuing them licences.

Speakers said the fishermen of Gwadar had vacated their fishing spots for the construction of the Gwadar port hoping that their economic conditions would improve once the port was ready, but now the federal government had issued licences to Chinese trawlers which were badly affecting their livelihood.

They alleged that the provincial fisheries minister and the federal government officials, instead of supporting the stance of the local fishermen, were giving statements in favour of the Chinese fishermen.In 2015, China announced the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project in Pakistan worth USD 46 billion, of which Balochistan is an integral part.

It would link Pakistan`s southern Gwadar port in Balochistan on the Arabian Sea to China`s western Xinjiang region. It also includes plans to create road, rail and oil pipeline links to improve connectivity between China and the Middle East. The Balochs opposed China`s increasing involvement in the province.

The CPEC has not benefited the people of Balochistan while people of other provinces enjoy the fruits of the mega project. This has led to widespread protests as the Chinese are viewed as encroachers who are squeezing out all the wealth from the region.

(With agency inputs)