Taking notice of the 'legitimate demands' of Gwadar fishermen, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday vowed to take action against "illegal fishing" by trawlers and would speak to Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo on the issue.

PM Imran's reaction comes amid the ongoing protest by hundreds of people of Gwadar, including women and children, in the city. Demonstrators, who have been on the streets since November 16, are demanding strict action against illegal trawling, the abolishment of the token system at the Pakistan-Iran border and to remove unnecessary security check posts, which hinder the movement of people in the area.

"I have taken notice of the very legitimate demands of the hardworking fishermen of Gwadar. Will be taking strong action against illegal fishing by trawlers & will also speak to CM Balochistan," the PM said in a tweet.

The protesters alleged that the authorities have duped them in the name of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, saying they haven't benefited from it despite promises to the contrary. They also want assurances to safeguard the livelihoods of the fisherfolk community, who don't have access to basic facilities, while their livelihood is under threat due to illegal fishing activities.

It is pertinent to mention that for the last many days #Gwadar has been one of the top trends on Twitter, with social media users sharing pictures of the protest and extending their support to the protesters.

The Baloch­istan government on December 8 decided to ensure a complete ban on illegal fishing in the province’s waters and asked the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) and the Sindh government to stop Sindh’s fishermen from ent­ering Balochistan’s waters, Dawn reported.

The decision was taken at a meeting presided over by Balochistan Chief Secretary Motahar Niaz Rana to review steps taken to stop illegal fishing by foreign trawlers and Sindh’s fishermen.