Islamabad: Sindh Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Muhammad Ali Malkani, announced that the Sindh government will prioritize resolving the issues faced by the province’s coastal fishermen and provide them with improved resources to enhance their livelihood. During a high-level meeting on Tuesday, Malkani discussed the challenges encountered by the fishing community.
The minister stressed the importance of registering fishermen and their vessels with the Sindh Fisheries Department to prevent unauthorized fishing. Only individuals with biometric verification and a valid CNIC or Smart Card will be permitted to fish. A system will be implemented to restrict fishermen from crossing into Indian waters and provide alerts when they enter Balochistan’s maritime boundaries. This comes amidst concerns about illegal fishing depleting fish stocks.
All seafaring vessels must be registered with the department to combat illegal fishing, protect marine life, and safeguard the rights of licensed fishermen, according to Malkani. He also emphasized the urgent need to address security concerns raised in a recent Corps Commander’s meeting. Registered jetty owners will be required to provide essential amenities.
The installation of Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) on fishing boats is underway, enabling real-time tracking and prompt intervention against illicit activities. Unregistered boats and individuals without CNICs will be prohibited from entering the sea, and strict action will be taken against those who violate these regulations. The minister directed officials to streamline the registration, VMS installation, and enforcement processes.
Malkani also highlighted the severe staff shortage in the Sindh government due to a lack of recruitment over the past 15 years, compounded by retirements and deaths. He emphasized the need for improved systems to provide timely alerts to fishermen regarding sea storms and other natural disasters.
The meeting included Secretary Livestock and Fisheries Dr. Kazim Jatoi, Captain Abdullah of Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, Colonel Ghulam Akbar of Pakistan Rangers, Assistant Collector Customs Yasir Kabir, DG MFDD Dr. Mansoor Wassan, DG Marine Fisheries Siraj Ahmed Solangi, MD Karachi Fisheries Harbour Zahid Khemtio, and Director Marine Asim Kareem.