Uplifting Karachi harbour

In the recent Sindh Assembly meeting, the problem of the depleting Karachi Fish Harbour was raised. The Livestock and Fisheries Minister did his best to counter the tough questions from the opposition benches, claiming that rehabilitation had been ongoing since 2019 under the ‘Rehabilitation and Renovation of Karachi Fish Harbour — External Services’ at a total cost of Rs15 billion. But the truth can explicitly be seen in the visuals that show garbage and slime floating over water as far as the eye can see. Even in small patches where water can be seen, the colour indicates that something foul is mixed.

Three years on since the project started and virtually no change has been witnessed. The promise of water tanks, a pump room, and proper sewage network is yet to be actualised and as little as a cleaning campaign to get rid of all the filth has not been done. So where has all the money been invested? This is not an isolated problem. Such mismanagement, negligence, and low awareness severely affects the efficiency and working of a harbor that can otherwise prove to be an important habitat for animals as well as beneficial for the struggling economy. In 2007, EU delisted Pakistani companies from exporting fish to European countries after inspectors reporting a number of serious issues. As a result, we remain closed off from a huge potential market.

In order to relist Pakistan, long strides need to be made in reforming the fisheries sector. This will start off by the development of the Karachi harbour. Money is already present, what is needed is a sincere professional at the helm who is willing to initiate the necessary change to get the country back on track. The goal should be to expand exports to places such as EU members states.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2023.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.