The tragic boat capsizing incident near the coastal city of Gwadar has claimed the lives of at least five fishermen, with four more bodies recovered on Sunday, according to the Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum (PFFF).
The ill-fated fishing expedition took a deadly turn on Saturday when a boat carrying six fishermen capsized in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Gwadar. All of the fishermen onboard were residents of Karachi, and had travelled to Balochistan for a fishing trip.
Kamal Shah, Media Coordinator for the PFFF, confirmed that one body was recovered soon after the incident on Saturday. With four additional bodies retrieved on Sunday, the total number of confirmed casualties has now reached five. Efforts are still underway to locate the sixth and final missing fisherman.
According to Shah, two of the recovered bodies have been transported back to Karachi, while the remaining three have been placed in the care of a local welfare organisation in Gwadar. One body has already been handed over to the deceased’s family in the Ali Akbar Shah Goth area of Ibrahim Haidery, a densely populated fishing locality in Karachi.
The Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum, which has been closely monitoring the situation, reiterated its urgent appeal to both federal and provincial authorities to intensify the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts. The organization has also called for improved safety measures for fishermen who often travel long distances to pursue their livelihoods in treacherous sea conditions.
A preliminary report has identified the deceased and missing fishermen as residents of several working-class coastal neighborhoods in Karachi, including Machhar Colony, Ibrahim Haidery, and Ali Akbar Shah Goth – communities deeply reliant on the fishing industry and often lacking access to emergency response infrastructure.
The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of small-scale fishermen who face life-threatening conditions at sea with minimal safety equipment and insufficient government support. The tragic loss has cast a pall of grief over Karachi’s fishing communities, where families now await news of the last missing fisherman.
Community leaders and rights advocates have urged authorities to not only expedite the current search operation but also to enforce stricter safety protocols and provide financial assistance to the bereaved families. They stress that recurring maritime accidents must be addressed through policy-level intervention and better regulation of fishing practices.
The boat capsize has underscored the urgent need for robust coastal safety measures and better coordination among rescue agencies, particularly for fishermen operating outside their home provinces. Until then, fishing communities continue to bear the brunt of negligence and under-resourced emergency systems.
