A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF CENTRAL INDUS BASED FISHERMEN COMMUNITIES AND NATIONAL INDICATORS OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Current study argues that wetlands in Pakistan can serve as a catalyst for enhancing the socioeconomic status of the dependent communities. Factually, natural resources are usually enough for
livelihood of the dependent communities but somehow the Indus-based fisherfolks are seemingly
deprived, destitute, despondent and have lower socio-economic status, despite of intense
interaction with natural capital. Wetlands are considered as a significant component of environment
that provide tangible and intangible benefits to fisherman communities regarding eco-resources and
eco-services. The study has been conducted for Central Indus Wetland Complex (CIWC) including
Chashma, Taunsa, Guddu, Sukkur barrages and Indus basin crossing nine districts of the
Punjab and Sindh provinces. The main objective of research was to examine the effect of CIWC on
the socio-economic status of these fisherfolks. Using purposive sampling technique, a sample of 608
fishermen households (Punjab=373 and Sindh=235) having fishing as major occupation was
carefully chosen. Results show that there is a huge difference of socio-economic status (income,
expenditure, education and house status) of the fishermen communities as compared to the same
national indicators of the Pakistan. Simultaneously the significant (0.000) difference has also been
recorded in the socio-economic status of the both provinces due to provincial policies.