Pasni fish harbour closure sparks calls for immediate restoration

WEB DESK: A senior lawmaker from Gwadar has urged the provincial authorities to take urgent steps to restore operations at Pasni Fish Harbour, warning that its prolonged closure has fuelled illegal fishing and economic hardship in the area.

According to Dawn, speaking on a point of order in the Balochistan Assembly, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman said the harbour has remained non-functional for an extended period despite the allocation of funds by international donors.

He told the House that officials in the Fisheries Department had failed to comply with directives issued by the parliamentary secretary for fisheries and had not effectively curbed unlawful fishing activities in the region. He called for strict and impartial action against those involved in illegal practices, stressing that enforcement should apply equally to locals and non-locals alike.

Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries Barkat Ali Rind informed members that a fisheries department officer had been appointed in Pasni on the recommendation of Maulana Rehman. However, he acknowledged tensions between two local groups, with one faction reportedly refusing to recognise Sindhi launch drivers, complicating efforts to restore normal operations.

Provincial Minister for Planning and Development Mir Zahoor Buledi attributed the harbour’s closure to severe siltation, which has rendered it inoperable. He stated that the Japan International Cooperation Agency has provided a grant of Rs800 million to facilitate the removal of accumulated silt, and that international consultants are being engaged to address the issue.

Buledi assured lawmakers that work would soon begin to make the harbour operational once again.

On the broader issue of illegal fishing, the minister said that a handful of companies had established a monopoly over fishing activities in the area. He added that the government is seeking to resolve the matter through dialogue while working to ensure fair access and sustainable practices.

Pasni Fish Harbour is regarded as a vital economic lifeline for coastal communities in Balochistan, and its continued closure has heightened concerns over livelihoods and marine resource management in the province.