Advocate Abdul Majeed Dashti, Information Secretary of the Makran High Court Bar Association and a prominent political and social figure long associated with the Lawyers' Movement, has strongly criticized the federal and provincial governments over the prolonged inactivity of Pasni's historic jetty, calling it "grave negligence" that has pushed thousands of fishermen and allied workers into economic ruin.

In a statement, Dashti said the jetty's closure over several years has left thousands of fishermen, sailors, laborers, fish-processing factories, ice houses and the wider business community tied to the fishing industry facing severe economic devastation, unemployment and hardship, while federal and provincial authorities continue to show what he called "criminal negligence."

He said the Government of Japan had provided substantial funding to dredge sand from Pasni jetty's main channel and restore it to working order, but neither was the proper use of those funds ensured nor has the jetty been fully restored to date, calling it not merely administrative failure but an "open injustice" to the coastal population and "the worst example of state indifference."

According to Dashti, the main channel is now completely blocked by sea sand, forcing Pasni's fishermen to travel hundreds of extra kilometres to unload their catch at Gwadar's Surbandar (Sur Jetty) instead, driving up fuel costs, travel time and expenses even as their income continues to fall.

He said local fishermen have resorted to pooling their own money to temporarily reopen the channel themselves, only for sea waves to refill it with sand within weeks. A permanent system of regular dredging and channel maintenance, he argued, could solve the problem for good, but the relevant institutions have failed to meet their constitutional and legal obligations.

Dashti warned that the blocked channel is also endangering lives: boats loaded with fish are often unable to reach shore, and several have capsized or been destroyed in rough seas, causing losses worth lakhs of rupees and putting fishermen's lives at risk. Delayed deliveries also cause catches to spoil, he said, with knock-on effects for national exports and foreign exchange earnings. He added that the lack of a proper road along Kanch Road's coastal stretch forces fishermen over difficult terrain that spoils their catch before it even reaches market or factories, undercutting government claims of coastal development.

Citing the constitutional guarantee of equal development and basic facilities for all citizens, Dashti said Makran's coastal population is being denied its basic economic rights, and that modernising the fishing sector would not only lift thousands of families out of hardship but also meaningfully boost the country's exports and economy.

He called on President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the federal fisheries minister, the Chief Minister of Balochistan, the provincial fisheries minister, MNA Malik Shah Gorgaij, MPA Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman, the fisheries secretary, the Director General of Fisheries Balochistan, and the Commissioner of Makran and Deputy Commissioner of Gwadar to:

Activate Pasni jetty on an emergency basis

Immediately dredge sand from the main channel

Permanently allocate dredging machinery and bulldozers for the channel's upkeep

Build a paved road to the coastal areas along Kanch Road

Provide fishermen easy loans, modern boats, nets, engines, cold storage facilities and modern training

Modernise the fisheries sector to create broader employment opportunities for youth

Dashti also called for a comprehensive fish-breeding strategy in dams, streams and small rivers, including releasing local fingerling species into water reservoirs, a strict ban on illegal hunting, fine-mesh and monofilament ("war") nets and toxic substances, full enforcement of the closed season during breeding periods, and maintaining natural water flow to protect aquatic life. He further urged the Balochistan government to provide Makran's youth interest-free loans, technical training and financial support for fish-farming ventures to strengthen the coastal economy and reduce unemployment.

He warned that if immediate, practical steps are not taken to restore Pasni jetty, clear the main channel and resolve fishermen's problems, the fishermen, laborers, traders and residents of Pasni will be left with no choice but to launch a full-scale protest movement in line with their constitutional and democratic rights, with responsibility resting entirely on the federal and provincial governments and concerned institutions. He also specifically called on the area's MNA, Malik Shah Gorgaij, and MPA, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman, to take practical steps toward making Pasni jetty operational.