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Islamabad: In a bold move to lift the local fishing industry and clamp down on illegal fishing, the federal government is set to roll out a scheme that will bring 6,000 duty-free boats to Balochistan. The initiative is aimed at giving a major boost to the province’s fishermen, who have long struggled with illegal trawlers from Sindh that fish in Balochistan’s waters.
To streamline the process, a one-time amnesty scheme will kick in, allowing local fishermen to register their new boats without any hurdles. The Balochistan government has been asked to hand over a list of 6,000 boats, and once the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) signs off on tax exemptions, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs will send the case for final approval by the federal cabinet.
The plan was unveiled during a recent visit to Quetta by a federal delegation led by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik. Addressing concerns about illegal fishing, the delegation acknowledged that Balochistan loses nearly Rs. 200 billion annually to these unlawful practices and vowed to iron out a solution in collaboration with federal agencies.
Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, alongside his team, raised a range of demands, including cracking down on foreign trawlers and rerouting Afghan transit trade through Gwadar Port. The federal delegation pledged to follow up on these suggestions, with the Ministry of Commerce working on a strategy, and the Ministry of Planning ensuring Gwadar’s future growth.
This game-changing scheme is expected to rev up Balochistan’s fishing sector and give local fishermen a fighting chance against illegal exploitation, all while safeguarding the province’s marine ecosystem.
