By Tooba Hameed, Shiza Farhan, Mahnoor Kamani, Sara Noor, Arbab Ibrahim & Sahrish Ahmed
Unsung heroes of Ibrahim Hyderi work endlessly with meager resources on a daily basis to survive and set an example for society
Karachi: Known as the ‘fishing town’ of Karachi, Ibrahim Hyderi is located in Karachi, Sindh. It is home to several diverse ethnic groups including Muhajirs, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochis, Bengalis, Lasis, Memons, Bohras, Ismailis, the Hazara community and more. Despite the fact that Ibrahim Hyderi is home to such a consistent and booming business, there are perpetually growing concerns of sanitation, education, poverty, and major health issues.
According to Kamal Shah, an official in the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), a recent census conducted in 2017, surveyed that the total population of the neighbourhood of Ibrahim Hyderi is estimated to be nearly 180,000. The business this town generates is approximated to be worth billions of rupees. Yet, the people of Ibrahim Hyderi lead lives bereft of even basic necessities like proper housing, water, or access to health care facilities.
“There are no hospitals or medical care centres available near the old fishing harbour of Ibrahim Hyderi. No medical care is provided if anyone gets wounded during exertion. There is only one government hospital in Ibrahim Hyderi. If the fishermen get injured, they usually visit the hospital all the way from the fishing village for their treatment and in case of emergency, many fishermen are left at the shore to face a brutal death,” says Shah while expressing concerns on behalf of the fishermen.
Net Talk
The cost of a fishing net made in Ibrahim Hyderi varies upon its overall quality. It is usually red in colour and is called ‘15 number’ – The price of which is around 50,000 rupees. The net is quite expensive as it includes government tax as well as the single piece which gets attached to the net. The second one is called ‘12 number’ and the third one is called ‘nine number’. The prices vary with the number mentioned with the net, as does the quality.
It takes a lot of time to mend the fishing net. The net is long enough to catch around 40 tons of fish and it takes one to two hours to unload the fish off the boat. The fishermen lament that the government does not help them with any subsidies or with the distribution of even the simplest pieces of equipment and thus the fishermen buy these nets themselves. This may come as quite a revelation, considering the sheer scale of this industry and the amount of money which the national economy procures as a result of it. On the other hand, however, if luck is on the fishermen’s side, the labourious work can be quite recompensing economically.
Abdullah, one of the fishermen, said, “February to May are prosperous months for every fisherman as these months have normal weather and it’s easy to catch fish in these months, therefore we make good money”. Since the fishermen follow the Islamic calendar before going for fishing, Abdullah accentuated on movement of the moon, as they are highly dependent on the moonlight.
The full moon is the luckiest night for them as it has more visibility to help them fish in the sea. Abdullah also said that this profession is just like a lottery, either you win it or you lose it all. Fishermen get paid through weekly wages. If they catch fish worth millions, then it’s like winning a lottery for them, of which each fisherman gets an equal share.
Boat making
In Ibrahim Hyderi, none of the boat makers follow any sort of blueprint or any worked out plan – the methods are all memorized based on years of experience the craftsmen hold. The boat-makers are most certainly unsung heroes in all of this, as their efforts go unnoticed, but the absolute beauty of what they can produce is a wonder for all to discern.
Boat building is, however, a game of money – the higher the investment in the boat, the better the quality of the boat. For instance, Burma Teak wood (sagwaan) is the most expensive type of wood used to make these boats, with starting prices at Rs12, 500 per cubic feet.
Interpretation of charts, blueprints and layouts is not something the craftsmen at Ibrahim Hyderi are accustomed to. The exact requirements of the boat to be built are usually communicated in great detail to these boat builders by the owner through a meeting, or even a phone call many times. The conversation usually includes questions and queries regarding the wood that is to be used, the budget for the project, or the exact measurements for the vessel.
"It takes more than six months to complete a boat with a wooden body, installed engine and all other accessories required to use them for fishing and loading functions (cargo). Boats ranging from 45 to 90 yards cost around Rs10m to Rs25m,” said Abdullah. They additionally build smaller boats to be used in shallow waters of creeks and lakes, which are fairly cheaper requiring very little effort and dexterity.
The fisherman revealed that he does not even have a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC), due to the restrictions implemented by the heads of the boat owners. He added that when they do not have CNIC cards they cannot purchase their own boats and are bound to work under their owners.