Sindh govt vows to elevate economic status of fishermen

KARACHI: The Provincial Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Muhammad Ali Malkani, has stated that the Fisheries Department of the Sindh government aims to provide all essential facilities directly to the doorsteps of Sindh’s fishermen to help elevate their economic status.

He added that the government would also direct the Fishermen Cooperative Society to extend all facilities currently provided to marine (sea) fishermen to inland fishermen across Sindh as well.

The provincial minister expressed these views during a meeting with delegations from various fishermen’s organizations representing Sujawal, Thatta, Badin, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Kashmore, Kandhkot, and other districts.

The meeting was scheduled upon the request of the fishermen to apprise the minister of their grievances.

The Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum was the key participant in this meeting.

The meeting was also attended by the Provincial Secretary for Livestock and Fisheries, Dr. Hussain Jatoi, the newly-elected Chairperson of the Fishermen Cooperative Society, Fatima Majeed, the Director of Marine Fisheries of Sindh, Dr. Asim Karim, and DS Staff Muhammad Imran.

Furthermore, Fisher Folk Chairman Ghulam Mustafa Mirani, General Secretary Saeed Baloch, and MajeedMalkani were also present. Muhammad Ali Malkani informed the fishermen that under the “aquaculture” project launched in collaboration with the World Bank, the government would introduce projects worth millions of rupees to support the fishermen in fish trading and hunting, enabling them to stand on their own feet.

The provincial minister emphasized that the government supported the one-and-a-half-month ban on fishing because it was the fish breeding season. Therefore, this ban would remain effective from June 15 to August 1.

He said that the fishermen’s identity cards would now be linked with NADRA so that their identity as fishermencould be verified through their computerized national identity cards (CNICs). Consequently, fishing licenses, boat registrations, aid funds, and World Bank projects would only be accessible to those fishermen who possessed the integrated ID cards.

The provincial minister listened to the problems being faced by the fishermen and assured them that their grievances would be escalated to the chief minister, the cabinet, and the Sindh Assembly.

He stated that if a legislative amendment was required to resolve those issues, it would be enacted.

The provincial minister also said that he would coordinate with other provincial departments, such as the Forest, Irrigation, and Environment, to alleviate the hardships faced by the fishing community.

He added that a formal letter would be written to the chief minister stating that since the contracting (Thekedari) system had been abolished through a legislative bill, no contracts should be issued anywhere. Fishing rights should be strictly reserved for the licensed fishermen only.

On this occasion, representatives of the fishermen’s organizations pointed out the dichotomy of two different laws.

They said that while the Balochistan government handled boat registrations itself, the Federal Mercantile Marine Department managed it in Sindh.

They said that following the 18th Amendment, this registration authority should also belong to the Sindh government.

They further informed the provincial minister that the toxic water from the LBOD (Left Bank Outfall Drain) was deteriorating the environment of Sindh’s rivers, canals, and lakes, causing severe damage to aquatic life.

They urged the Sindh government to play its role in providing shelter, clothing, employment, education, and healthcare facilities to the fishermen living across 1,209 water bodies in Sindh.

In response, the minister assured them that the Sindh Fisheries Department would make every effort to resolve all their issues.

He said that the government would work to establish an advisory council consisting of representatives from fishermen’s organizations, fisheries members, and inland officers to collectively deliberate and find solutions to all prevailing problems.

Concluding the meeting, the provincial minister thanked all the participants and reiterated that all issues faced by the fishermen of Sindh would be resolved.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026