The fishing industry in Pakistan is critical for foreign exchange, with significant commercial and inland fishing operations, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan. Key challenges include pollution, inadequate capital for modernization, and reliance on traditional fishing methods. The government is implementing measures to enhance the sector, including new fishing techniques and improved processing facilities.

1. Fishing Industry
(Pakistan)

2. Table of Contents
→ Fishing (Introduction)
→Fishing areas and methods
→Problems of Fishing Industry
→Government’s efforts to develop fisheries

3. Introduction
→Fishing is one of the oldest occupations for
people who live near lakes, rivers and sea.
→With the progress of civilization, fishing
communities started breeding fish. This is
called fish farming.
→In Pakistan there are many fish farms
inland using man-made, rectangular ponds
as well as using protected areas in rivers and
lakes.
→Pakistan earns 6% of its total foreign
exchange earnings by exporting fish,
shrimps and fish products.
→Fishing is the main occupation in the
coastal settlements of Sindh( except
Karachi) and Balochistan.

4. Fishing areas and Methods
Marine Fishing: Pakistan has a coastline
divided into the Sindh and Makran coasts.
→ The Sindh coast is 30% of coastline and
the Makran coast 70%.
→ In Sindh, Karachi is the main fishing
centre. On the Makran coast fishing ports
are small, often no more than villages
like Soniamani and Jiwani.
→ Gwadar is the most important fishing
port on this coast. It is developed as a
fishing centre by providing improved
facilities such as an ice factory,
refrigeration plants and modern fish
curing(preserving) methods.
→ Improvements are also being made at
Ormara and Pasni.

5. Commercial Fishing: In commercial
fishing the fish is sold in the market.
→A number of fishing communities
depend on fishing as the sole source of
their income.
→There are two main centres of
commercial fishing, Karachi and
Gwadar. The Sindh coast is more
important and accounts for nearly 68%
of total marine catch.
→Modern trawlers and mechanized boats
have made it possible to fish 50-60 km
from the coast in deep-sea waters.
→In Karachi the government has
developed Korangi fish harbour where
storage and packing facilities are
available to fisherman.

6. Drum Fish
Croakers
Cat Fish
Shrimps

7. Inland Fishing: Inland fishing is practised in
almost all the rivers and lakes in the country.
→A number of fish farms have been spread
throughout Punjab, Sindh and a few areas of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

8. Fish Farms: Fish farms are rectangular
man-made ponds for breeding of fish.
→ They have a concrete or cemented
base to prevent water losses through
leakage. The side of the farm is
edged with solidified mud.
→ Trees are often planted around the
fish farms to provide oxygen,
minimize the evaporation and to
keep the water body cool.
The main fishing centres are:
→ Manchar lake in Dadu district.
→ Kheenjar lake in north of Thatta.
→ River Indus at Thatta, Sukkur and
Kotri.

9. Manaseer
Rahu
Silver Carp
Trout

10. Problems of Fishing Industry
The main problems facing the fishing industry
in Pakistan are:
→ Pollution on the coast of Pakistan is
mostly limited to the Karachi area. The
Karachi fish harbour is severely affected
by a variety of pollutants.
→ Spillage of oil from ships and domestic
and Industrial waste is causing great
harm to fishing Industry.
→ Mangrove that are breeding ground for fish
and shrimps can not grow well in polluted
sea water.
→ Pakistan does not have enough capital to
develop the fishing Industry on modern
lines.
→ In Pakistan most of the fishing is done in
traditional lines which results in low
output.

11. Government efforts to develop fisheries
The government is taking a number of
steps to improve the fisheries sector
which include:
→ The introduction of new fishing
methods.
→ Development of value added
products such as canned fish by
providing fish processing facilities.
→ Guidance and weather information
for the fisherman through
broadcasting services.