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Pakistan’s traditional boat builders keep Karachi’s fishing heritage alive
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Culture & Society

Pakistan’s traditional boat builders keep Karachi’s fishing heritage alive

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Boat builders in Karachi’s Ibrahim Hyderi neighborhood continue constructing traditional wooden fishing vessels despite the growth of industrial shipbuilding.
  • The craft relies on hand-drawn designs, locally sourced and imported timber, and painstaking assembly that can take up to three months for a small boat.
  • Builders and painters describe the work as a source of skill, pride and satisfaction in a community linked to Karachi’s fishing sector.

In Karachi’s Ibrahim Hyderi neighborhood, traditional fishing boats still rise from timber, nails and hand-drawn pencil marks. The maritime town, believed to date back centuries, is known for building the vessels that support the area’s fishing communities.

The work continues despite the rise of industrial shipbuilding. Boat builder Muhammad Asif, 22, learned the trade from his father as a teenager and now works independently. He starts at 7 a.m., returns home around 7 p.m. and earns up to 2,500 Pakistani rupees ($9) a day over a six-day week. “I was drawn to this work, so I work at it with great dedication,” Asif said. “It has always been my passion, that is why I chose this line of work.”

This is the area that gave birth to Karachi, and that provided Karachi with its fishing sector.

— Mehran Ali ShahThe Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum representative described Ibrahim Hyderi’s place in Karachi’s history and fishing economy.

Construction begins when a fisherman selects a design. A master craftsman prepares a template, after which workers cut heavy blocks of eucalyptus or African teak according to hand-drawn markings. They assemble the hull from the ground up, climbing rickety ladders as each block and nail brings the boat higher. Even a small vessel several meters long can take up to three months and cost one million Pakistani rupees ($3,600), Asif said.

I was drawn to this work, so I work at it with great dedication. It has always been my passion, that is why I chose this line of work.

— Muhammad AsifThe young boat builder explained his commitment to the family craft.

The boats also carry the mark of another craft. Painter Muhammad Ismail, 38, has decorated vessels for more than a decade, often covering their hulls with floral designs. “Most of our fishermen prefer floral designs rather than fish,” he said. Ismail said he feels great satisfaction when owners appreciate his work, whether they request a specific design or give him freedom to create.

Nearby, fisherman Qadir Bux repaired nets beside a family boat that has been in use for at least two decades. He hopes to refurbish the wooden vessel soon, treating it as something precious.

Most of our fishermen prefer floral designs rather than fish.

— Muhammad IsmailThe boat painter described the decorative choices favored by local fishermen.
About this summary

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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