Authorities on Sunday recovered four more bodies from a fishing boat that hijacked near Gwadar, which brought the total death toll to five. The boat, carrying six fishermen from Karachi, sank due to strong wind and rough waves in the Arab Sea earlier this week.
The deceased includes Ayub, resident of Ibrahim Hyderi, whose body was recovered a day earlier and laid to rest on Sunday. His son Zeeshan, also among the victims, is expected to be brought to Karachi from Gwadar on Monday night. The remaining three victims identified as residents of Machar Colony were also transported to the city for funeral.
A fisherman survived miraculously the incident.
Read more: A death, more missing as boat sinking near Gwadar
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) Media Coordinator Kamal Shah confirmed that six fishermen were aboard the time of the accident. “Five are dead while surviving,” he said.
PFF chairman Mehran Ali Shah, who spoke with media at Ayub’s funeral, said the fishing community is facing daily risks at sea to provide for their families. “When they are unable to fish, they remain with hunger and poverty,” he added.
He demanded that the Sindh government create rescue centers along the coast and deliver speedboats to secure timely answers under maritime emergencies. Shah also called on the Fishermen Cooperative Society and relevant authorities to offer immediate financial support to the victims’ families.
“Sindh’s fishermen contribute over $ 24 billion in taxes annually. It’s time for the government to invest in their security,” he said.
