The Chief Minister of Sindh Murad Ali Shah pledged to address fishermen’s issues, tackle sea pollution, and revive the Keti Bandar port project.
This decision came forward in a meeting held at CM House, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Shaikh discussed pressing issues affecting Sindh’s coastal regions, including support for local fishermen, tackling sea pollution, and reviving the long-stalled Keti Bandar port project.
Key officials, including Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh and Chairman Port Qasim Rear Admiral Nasir Shah, also attended the meeting.
The discussions began with the impact of large fishing trawlers on fish stocks, as these trawlers harm marine life by destroying fish seedlings.
Sindh government has banned sensitive nets like Bulloo and Gujjo to mitigate this impact, though trawler licensing remains an unresolved issue.
To address this, the CM and federal minister decided to form a joint committee comprising representatives from the Maritime Ministry along with the Sindh and Balochistan governments.
Sea pollution was another focal point, with both leaders highlighting the harmful effects of untreated wastewater entering the ocean.
CM Murad Ali Shah outlined the West Karachi Water Recycling Project, which will include a 35 MIGD wastewater treatment plant, a pipeline network, and an advanced pumping station.
This project, now beyond the tender stage, aims to supply 28 MIGD of recycled water to industries in the SITE area.
The meeting members also discussed the installation of a Combined Effluent Treatment Plant, with a commitment from both governments for collaboration.
Recognizing the increasing strain on Karachi Port and Port Qasim, the need for an additional deep-water port became evident.
The Keti Bandar project, with its existing connections to major highways, was initially approved under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) but has seen limited progress.
The federal minister expressed intent to revive this port project through private partnerships.
The leaders concluded with plans for a follow-up meeting to review progress on these initiatives, reflecting a collaborative approach to Sindh’s coastal development.
