Mehran Shah

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF)

The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) is a civil society organization created in May of 1998. The PFF aims to protect the socioeconomic and political rights of indigenous fisherfolk communities in Pakistan by bringing sustainability in the usage of water resources. It vows to bring a change in socio-economic conditions of these communities by ensuring the restoration of their historical ownership right in and on the water resources. The PFF targets a wide array of issues which are directly or indirectly associated with about 4 million fishers in Pakistan. In this , The PFF focuses on creating a sustainable fisheries policy, a ban on deep sea trawlers, the stop to the depletion of natural resources in the sea, the protection of resources from destructive nets, the release and rehabilitation of detained fishers in Pakistani and Indian jails, the abolition of contract system on the inland water bodies, the creation of a license system on the inland water bodies, the restoration of Indus Delta, the relief and rehabilitation of people affected by Left Bank Outfall Drainage (LBOD) and Right Bank Outfall Drainage (RBOD) and the advancement socioeconomic and political rights of the fishers. In working for the advancement and protection of the rights of Pakistani fisherfolk the PFF raises awareness in the fishing communities about their rights and the means to get these rights. Additionally, the PFF and lobbies for the rights of the marginalized, excluded communities. PFF envisages "change, change the policies and practices of the state and its institutions in Pakistan regarding the fisheries sector that would pave the way for a sustainable fisheries policy that will empower the fishers' in inland and marine waters and will ensure the preservation of natural resources which are depleting in abundant quantity