Jul 03 2009
Proposed draft of complaint letter to CM Punjab by Munir Ahmed
Mr. Shahbaz Sharif
The Chief Minister Punjab
Chief Minister House
GOR-I
Lahore.
SUBJECT: ILLEGAL NETTING OF FISH IN RIVERS AND LAKES OF PUNJAB IN CLOSED MONTHS.
We take this opportunity to introduce ourselves as an Association of like minded people from all over Pakistan, who have taken up recreational fishing as a sport and hence are very much concerned with the conservation of fisheries as well.
We are writing this letter to draw your attention to the fast depleting fish stocks due to unchecked, destructive and illegal netting of the fish in the closed months of JUNE, JULY and AUGUST throughout The Province of Punjab.
The above months have been declared closed for netting by The Punjab Fisheries Ordinance 1961 (First Schedule) to help the fish breed peacefully, in order to maintain a healthy population of fish in the waters of the Province and to ensure the continued livelihood of the commercial fishermen and supply of meat to the common man.
But unfortunately the Fisheries Department Punjab is unable to control commercial fishing in the closed months for the reasons best known to them, hence the commercial fishermen due to lack of education and knowledge, indulge in illegal netting for short term gains, totally ignorant of the fact, that they are destroying their own as well as livelihood of their future generations.
Sir, we have already lost our most prized and valuable fish, The Majestic Mahasher, which is now almost extinct in the waters of Punjab, due to illegal netting and killing of juvenile fish. The next fish in line to follow the same fate is our famous Rohu of Punjab.
We therefore, very strongly request you to please take necessary measures, to stop the illegal, unchecked and rampant netting of the fish in Punjab waters, otherwise we are afraid that, all the magnificent and beautiful rivers and lakes of Punjab will become fishless waters.
Pakistan Game Fish Association
July____, 2009.
