KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday ordered a comprehensive security overhaul at Karachi Fish Harbour, including establishment of a dedicated police station, enhanced police deployment and mandatory biometric registration of harbour users at the facility classified as a Category A-1 vital installation.

The order comes against the backdrop of growing lawlessness at the 84-acre harbour that handles around 20,000 people daily.

On Sept 8, a dispute over placing fish catches on the roadside despite the availability of designated auction halls led to a fir-ing incident which resulted in one casualty and injuries to six persons.

Category A-1 is the country`s highest security grading for a vital installation, meaning its sabotage would threaten national security or the economy. It requires round-the-clock armed guards, a fortified perimeter, a CCTV control room and biometric-controlled entry as a Red Zone.

Reviewing the progress on the Rs2.779 billion Rehabilitation and Renovation of Karachi Fish Harbour External Services scheme, he was informed that the harbour`s CCTV system had reached only five per cent, while several offshore and allied works, including the fixed jetty, stone pitching, steel approach bridges and rehabilitation of floating pontoons, had not made any physical progress so far.

According to a press statement issued by the CM House, the chief minister observed that Karachi Fish Harbour had been declared a Category A-1 vital installation but continued toface a shortage ofsecurity personnel and weak access control.The meeting, attended among others by Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, Fisheries Minister Muhammad Ali Malkani and senior officials, was informed that fishermen, auction agents, fishmongers, labourers, transporters, seafood processors, ice dealers and foreign nationals were moving round the clock without effective screening.

It was informed that fish unloading and auction on roads despite designated halls were causing congestion, disputes and lawand-order risks. Occupation of roads by ice dealers with ice boxes, presence of hotels inside the harbour and encroachment of the red zone were also discussed.

Taking serious notice, the chief minister directed the home minister to enhance security and pursue establishment of a dedicated police station at Karachi Fish Harbour in consultation with the fisheries department.

The chief minister ordered that all unloading and auction be only in designated areas and that roads and the red zonemust be cleared. Regulation of ice dealers occupying roads with ice boxes was also ordered.

Proposal for a new auction hall at K-6 and designated space for fishmongers and removal of hotels inside the harbour were also discussed.

Mr Shah ordered mandatory registration of all harbour users as the meeting was informed that the KFHA database exists but data of Fishermen`s Cooperative Society members is still outstanding. The chief minister ordered that.

The meeting was informed that 5,196 boats are registered, 1,450 renewals/new registrations per year on average, and 170,000 cards have been issued since 2001, including 155,000 crew cards, with the chief minister ordering upgradation of the Management Information System.

He also ordered separate electricity and water connections to meet the operational needs of the harbour and EU export compliance.

The chief minister also ordered strictoversight of seafood exporters operating outside the harbour. He ordered monitoring, data transparency and traceability to be strengthened.

The meeting examined the concerns about unauthorised fish godowns allegedly affeeting Fishermen`s Cooperative Society`s revenue, as well as discrepancies in recorded weights in traceability documents and export claims.

Mr Shah directed the authorities to investigate these issues and take action under applicable rules to prevent revenue losses, improve traceability and strengthen accountability and transparency in seafood handling and exports.

The meeting also discussed other administrative issues including financial assistance for completing K-1 and a proposal for the provincial government to take over Korangi Harbour.

The chief minister asked the fisheries minister to submit proposals on the grant and the harbour`s takeover.

The meeting was informed that the harbour rehabilitation scheme was being implemented by the communication and works department under the Annual Development Programme and that of the total estimated cost, Rs1.426bn had been utilised, leaving approximately Rs1.353bn in outstanding expenditure. For 2026-27, Rs311m has been allocated, of which Rs46.65m has been released.

The CM was informed that demolition work had been completed, while water works and the main boundary wall were 90 per cent complete. Sewerage network works and ancillary buildings have reached80pc, firefighting systems 60pc and roads 90pc completion.

The meeting was told that external electrical works were 30pc complete, while the CCTV system has reached only five per cent. Sewerage treatment plants are 60pc complete. Several other components, including the fixed jetty, stone pitching, steel approach bridges and rehabilitation of floating pontoons, have yet to record physical progress. The fire tender component has also made no progress.

The chief minister directed the fisheries department to remove bottlenecks, improve inter-departmental coordination and expedite pending works, particularly street lighting, CCTV surveillance and the security control room.