KARACHI: Marine pollution along Karachi’s coastal belt is rising at an alarming pace, with large mechanized fishing vessels identified as a major source due to the widespread use and improper disposal of plastic bags at sea.
According to reports, these vessels—locally referred to as “launch ka gaja”—carry thousands of kilograms of plastic shopping bags during fishing operations. Fishermen collect fish, including Mian fish and other species, in these plastic bags and transport them to Ibrahim Hyderi and other fish landing points in Karachi. After unloading their catch, the plastic bags are routinely discarded back into the sea.
Environmental experts and local stakeholders have expressed serious concern, noting that discarded plastic bags sink into deeper waters and pose a significant threat to marine biodiversity. Fish, shrimp, and other marine species are increasingly at risk, while the continued accumulation of plastic waste is disrupting the ecological balance and raising fears of long-term environmental damage.
Local fishermen have urged the Government of Sindh to impose an immediate ban on the use and transportation of plastic bags in marine fishing operations. They emphasize that urgent regulatory measures are essential to protect marine life and safeguard the livelihoods of coastal communities dependent on fisheries.
President of the Coastal Media Center Ibrahim Hyderi, Kamal Shah, has called for immediate government intervention, urging authorities to take serious notice of the issue and implement effective policies and enforcement mechanisms to curb marine pollution and preserve the coastal ecosystem.
