Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday ordered comprehensive measures to strengthen law and order, improve security and access control, regulate commercial activities, and address long-standing administrative and infrastructure issues at Karachi Fish Harbour, one of the province’s major fisheries and seafood export facilities.
Presiding over a meeting at CM House, the chief minister examined issues concerning security, congestion, unauthorised occupation of roads, utility connections, cooperative society administration, fisheries infrastructure and the regulation of seafood exports. He emphasised that Karachi Fish Harbour must operate as a secure, well-regulated and efficient facility that protects the interests of fishermen, supports legitimate seafood businesses and strengthens Sindh’s fisheries and export economy.
The meeting was attended by Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Fisheries Minister Muhammad Ali Malkani, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Cooperatives and Societies Ahsan Mazari, Chairperson of the Fishermen’s Cooperative Society Fatima Majeed, Secretary Fisheries and Livestock Kazim Jatoi, Secretary Cooperatives Qamar Raza Baloch, Managing Director Karachi Fish Harbour Authority Riaz Ali Maithlo, and Manager Fishermen’s Cooperative Society Ayaz Ali.
Security concerns
Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Muhammad Ali Malkani informed the meeting that Karachi Fish Harbour, constructed by the federal government in 1959 over an area of 84 acres, was transferred to Sindh in 1974 following the devolution of fisheries to the provincial domain. The Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA) was subsequently established under an ordinance in 1984 to oversee the harbour’s management and rehabilitation.
He said approximately 20,000 people enter the harbour daily, including fishermen, auction agents, fishmongers, labourers, transporters, seafood processors, ice dealers and foreign nationals. Its round-the-clock operations, involving boats, vehicles, fish auctions and seafood handling, place considerable pressure on security, traffic management and the available infrastructure.
The meeting was informed that congestion and unregulated commercial activities had heightened law-and-order risks, particularly where fish catches were unloaded and auctioned on roads despite the availability of designated auction halls. Such practices obstruct movement, create disputes among different groups and undermine the orderly management of the harbour.
The chief minister directed the relevant authorities to ensure that fish unloading, auctioning and related commercial activities were conducted in designated areas and that roads and access routes remained clear.
Enhanced policing
The briefing highlighted a shortage of security personnel at the harbour, which has been classified as a Category A-1 key point or vital installation requiring enhanced protection.
The meeting reviewed reported firing incidents and clashes. A further firing incident on September 8, 2026, arising from a dispute over placing fish catches on the road, reportedly resulted in one casualty and six injuries.
Expressing concern over the situation, the chief minister directed Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar to take the necessary measures to strengthen security and improve law and order at the harbour. He also directed the Home Minister to pursue the establishment of a dedicated police station at Karachi Fish Harbour in consultation with the Fisheries Department.
Digital monitoring
The chief minister directed the relevant authorities to enforce mandatory registration of all harbour users and strengthen coordination between the police and harbour management.
The meeting was informed that the KFHA maintains a centralised database to identify harbour users and improve access control, but the particulars of people associated with Fishermen’s Cooperative Society Limited operations remained outstanding.
The chief minister directed the concerned authorities to obtain the missing information and ensure compliance with registration requirements.
He also ordered the upgrading of the existing management information system through RFID-based harbour-user cards, NADRA Verisys verification, an online mobile application and integration with the Crime Record Management System (CRMS).
According to the briefing, 5,196 boats were registered with the authority, which processes an average of 1,450 new registrations and renewals annually. The authority has issued 170,000 computerised cards to harbour users since 2001, including 155,000 crew cards.
Separate electricity and water connections, restoration of cold storage
The meeting also reviewed operational and infrastructure issues raised by the Fishermen’s Cooperative Society.
The society reported that an electricity meter had been removed while a bill of Rs 5.7 million had been issued, which it described as excessive and raised concerns about the billing in the absence of a meter.
Taking notice of the matter, the chief minister directed the concerned authorities to arrange a separate electricity connection to address the issue and ensure proper metering and billing. The CM directed Fisheries & Livestock Minister Mohammad Ali Malkani to resolve the electricity bill issue.
He also directed the relevant department to provide a separate water connection for the harbour to meet its operational requirements and support compliance with European Union requirements relating to seafood exports.
The meeting further discussed the restoration of the harbour’s cold storage facility, which is important for preserving seafood quality and improving handling arrangements. The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to examine the matter and take the necessary steps to restore the facility.
The meeting also reviewed the occupation of roads in the designated red zone by ice dealers storing seafood in ice boxes. The chief minister directed that such activities be regulated and that unauthorised occupation of roads be addressed to ensure smooth movement and proper use of harbour facilities.
New auction hall
The meeting discussed the need to improve the organisation of fish auctions and address the shortage of properly designated commercial spaces.
The Fishermen’s Cooperative Society raised issues concerning the removal of hotels and the establishment of a new auction hall at K-6, along with the allocation of designated space for fishmongers.
The chief minister directed the Fisheries Minister to examine these proposals and develop appropriate arrangements to reduce congestion, facilitate legitimate commercial activity and prevent disputes arising from the unauthorised use of roads and common areas.
He stressed that fish handling and auctioning should be organised in a manner that supports fishermen and traders while ensuring security, cleanliness and efficient harbour operations.
Strict oversight of seafood exports
The chief minister also emphasised the need for stronger regulation of seafood exporters operating outside Karachi Fish Harbour.
The meeting discussed the need for strict policies and strategies to ensure that seafood export activities conducted outside the harbour were properly documented and reflected accurately in official records.
The chief minister directed the relevant authorities to strengthen monitoring and data transparency, improve traceability and ensure that export documentation accurately reflected the quantities handled and exported.
The meeting also raised concerns about unauthorised fish godowns allegedly affecting the revenue generation of the Fishermen’s Cooperative Society, as well as discrepancies involving recorded weights in traceability documents and export claims.
The chief minister directed the concerned authorities to examine these issues and take appropriate action in accordance with the applicable rules to prevent revenue losses, strengthen accountability and ensure transparency in seafood handling and export operations.
The meeting also discussed the need for financial assistance for completion of K-1 and the proposal for taking over Korangi Harbour. The chief minister directed the Minister for Fisheries to submit him a proposal for the grant and Korangi Harbour.
Rehabilitation scheme
The meeting reviewed progress on the Rehabilitation and Renovation of Karachi Fish Harbour – External Services scheme, being executed by the Communication and Works Department under the Annual Development Programme.
The scheme has an estimated cost of Rs2.779 billion, of which Rs1.426 billion has been utilised, leaving a throw-forward of approximately Rs1.353 billion. For the financial year 2026-27, an allocation of Rs311 million has been made, against which Rs46.65 million has been released.
The briefing showed that demolition work had been completed, while water works had reached 90 per cent, sewerage network works 80 per cent, firefighting systems 60 per cent, ancillary buildings 80 per cent, the main boundary wall 90 per cent and roads 90 per cent completion.
External electrical works were reported at 30 per cent completion, while the harbour’s CCTV system had reached only five per cent. Several offshore and allied works, including the fixed jetty, stone pitching, steel approach bridges and rehabilitation of floating pontoons, had yet to record physical progress.
Sewerage treatment plants were 60 per cent complete, while the fire tender component had not progressed.
The Chief Minister directed the Fisheries Department to remove bottlenecks, improve coordination and expedite the completion of pending works, particularly those related to street lighting, CCTV surveillance and the security control room.
Concluding the meeting, the chief minister stressed that security, infrastructure, administrative and commercial issues at Karachi Fish Harbour required coordinated and timely action.
He directed the relevant departments and authorities to implement the proposed measures to improve law and order, facilitate fishermen and seafood businesses, strengthen export transparency and ensure more effective management of the harbour.