Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum marks 28th anniversary with events across coastal regions

KARACHI: The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) marked its 28th anniversary with ceremonies held across coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan, according to the organisation.

The anniversary was observed in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal, Sanghar, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Sukkur and Gwadar. In Karachi, fishermen took part in gatherings organised in Ibrahim Hyderi, Rehri Goth, Ali Akbar Shah Goth, Chashma Goth and Jekot.

The main ceremony was held at the PFF head office in Ibrahim Hyderi, where PFF Chairman Syed Mehran Ali Shah cut the anniversary cake. The event was attended by a large number of fishermen, activists and members of civil society.

Central ceremony held in Ibrahim Hyderi

During the gathering, Chairman Syed Mehran Ali Shah spoke about the organisation’s origins and its role in advocating for fishing communities. He said the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum was established in 1998 by its late founding chairman, Syed Muhammad Ali Shah.

The anniversary activities reflected participation from fishing communities in multiple coastal and riverine areas where the forum has maintained an organisational presence. In Karachi, the observance drew fishermen from several localities, while parallel events were also held in districts across Sindh as well as in Gwadar, Balochistan.

The celebrations were organised across a wide geographic spread, covering both urban and coastal communities. The central event in Ibrahim Hyderi served as the focal point of the anniversary observance, with fishermen and civil society representatives joining the ceremony.

The PFF’s anniversary programme highlighted the organisation’s continued engagement with fishermen in coastal settlements. The event in Karachi, led by the forum’s chairman, also recalled the contribution of the group’s late founder and his long-standing struggle for the rights of fishermen.

Events marking the anniversary were held simultaneously in several districts, underlining the forum’s outreach in Sindh and Balochistan. The Karachi ceremonies, particularly the one at the head office in Ibrahim Hyderi, remained central to the observance, where participants gathered to commemorate the organisation’s 28 years.

The anniversary was celebrated through local gatherings rather than a single event, with participation reported from multiple communities. The central ceremony concluded with the cake-cutting at the PFF head office in the presence of fishermen, activists and civil society members.