KARACHI The Sindh Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution and expressed its displeasure over the closure of petrol pumps by petrol pump dealers as a result of which people faced severe difficulties. The resolution tabled by MQM legislator Abdul Moeed Siddiqui said, This Assembly expresses displeasure over the closure of petrol Pumps by petrol pumps dealers and resolves that in view of the strike of petrol pumps the great inconvenience experienced by the public and the apprehension of breach of peace, the government may approach the federal government and immediate engage in dialogue process with the Petrol Pumps Dealers Association so as to bring the end to the strike. Speaking in favour of his resolution, Moeed Siddiqui said people were facing difficulties after the closure petrol pumps which also created hurdles in carrying out essential services. He said that unrest was witnessed among the people which may create law and order situation in the city. He said it had remained practice that petrol pumps dealers stop supply of petrol at the end of month and earned huge profit after increase in the prices of POL. Supporting the resolutions, PML (F) member Dr Rafique Bhanban said that it was fact that petrol pump dealers pocketed big profit through hording of petrol. Sindh Minister for Katchi Abadis Engineer Rafique Advocate, who usually put his leg in wedge, said that fluctuation in the prices of oil in the international market impact on local price. He said that government did not want to pass on the burden on the people but certain elements wanted to exploit the situation and instigate the people for strike. Sindh Minister Haji Muzaffar Shujra, who is also vice president Petrol pumps Dealers Association, said pump owners were made hoards petrol to earn profit. Though the PPP benches tried their level best to block the resolution on one pretext or the other but on the insistent of MQM parliamentary leader Syed Sardar Ahmed, it was passed after certain amendments. Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Fisheries, Zahid Ali Bhurgari, informed the Sindh Assembly on Monday that fisheries department has upgraded 245 fishing boats to meet the criteria of European Union, which is one the big importers of Pakistani seafood, and disclosed that a delegation of EU will visit Karachi Fish Harbour soon. Replying to written questions on the floor of the Sindh Assembly, he said that Pakistan was de-listed by EU in 2007 and a ban was imposed on the import of seafood from Pakistan on the plea of unhygienic fishing boat as a result of which the country had suffered loss of Rs 2 billion per annum. He, however, said that to meet the criteria of EU, the government has launched a scheme costing Rs 290.271 million approved by PDWP on Oct 18, 2010. The scheme was revised three times due to change in scope of work i.e. Ist revision costing Rs 509.925 million approved on August 17, 2009 and second revision Rs568.855 million approved on 30th April 2009 and third revision Rs555.951 million approved on 13th May, 2010. The scheme will be completed in June 2011. The project consist of procurement of M&E for handling port operation, Up gradation and Modification of Large and Small Boats, hiring of armed Security Guards, janitorial Services, feasibility study for rehabilitation and renovation of Karachi Fish Harbour and off shore investigation.