The Sindh government has announced major reforms for the province’s fishing sector, including the abolition of the contract (thekedari) system and a decision to allow fishing only by licensed fishermen.
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Sindh Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Muhammad Ali Malkani made the announcement during a high-level meeting with delegations representing fishermen from Sujawal, Thatta, Badin, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Kashmore, Kandhkot and other districts.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Provincial Secretary for Livestock and Fisheries Dr Kazam Hussain Jatoi, newly elected Fishermen Cooperative Society Chairperson Fatima Majeed, Director of Marine Fisheries Sindh Dr Asim Karim, Fisher Folk Chairman Ghulam Mustafa Mirani, General Secretary Saeed Baloch, and Majeed Malkani.
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Addressing the participants, Malkani said the Fisheries Department is committed to providing services and facilities directly to fishermen to improve their livelihoods and economic conditions.
He announced that facilities currently available to marine fishermen would also be extended to inland fishermen across Sindh through the Fishermen Cooperative Society.
In a major policy decision, the minister said the provincial government would completely abolish the contract fishing system throughout Sindh.
“There will be no fishing contracts anywhere in Sindh. Fishing rights will be reserved exclusively for licensed fishermen,” Malkani said.
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He added that the government would write to the chief minister to ensure that no new fishing contracts are issued once the abolition is implemented through legislation.
Malkani also announced that fishermen’s identity cards would be integrated with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
Under the new system, fishermen will be verified through their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs), and only those holding the integrated identity cards will be eligible for:
- Fishing licences
- Boat registration
- Financial assistance
- World Bank-funded projects
The minister said the Sindh government, in collaboration with the World Bank, is implementing an aquaculture project under which development schemes worth millions of rupees will be introduced for fishermen involved in fish harvesting and trade.
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Malkani reaffirmed support for the annual fishing ban during the fish breeding season, saying the restriction from June 15 to August 1 would continue to protect fish stocks.
Responding to concerns raised by fishermen’s representatives, he said the government was prepared to introduce legislative amendments where necessary and that the Fisheries Department would coordinate with the Forest, Irrigation and Environment departments to resolve issues affecting the fishing community.
