KARACHI: “From 2000 to 2014, I have lost 20 boats, four of which were taken only recently,” said Ghani Atherki. “Do you think with Pakistan’s decision to return the seized boats of Indian fishermen, I can also look forward to seeing my boats again someday?” the man asked.

“My boats may not be very big in size but they were the means of livelihood for several families here. Even the nets on those boats were confiscated by the Indian authorities. The fishermen in them, too, were arrested but there is still hope of their returning. But the boats I thought I had seen the last of until now,” he added.

“Before 2000 I used to be a farmer but then I decided that the fishing business was more lucrative. So I sold my land and cattle and invested all that money in fishing trawlers. But they are all gone now and rotting somewhere in India. I now work at the mosque and my son works as a labourer to make ends meet.”

Ghani Atherki got his hopes up after hearing that the some 57 captured boats of Indian fishermen would be returned to India in September after some repairs here as the vessels currently are not seaworthy. The step is part of a friendly gesture by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif when he had ordered the release of 150 Indian fishermen from Pakistan’s jails back in May ahead of his visit to India.

Lakho Thahimore of Chachh Jan Khan also hoped to see his lost boat. “It cost me Rs600,000 to build my boat. There was a time when I was well-to-do but now I am almost a beggar. If we are returning Indian boats, does it also mean that India will return our boats?” he asked.

“Building boats has been a labour of love for me for 30 years now,” said Mohammad Yaqoob as he tightened the screws in the long and curved planks of wood that would serve as a new boat’s hull. “This is Burma teak. This boat is 25 feet in length. Burma teak three decades ago cost Rs40 per foot but it costs around Rs5,500 per foot today. After putting in the engine, etc, the complete boat will cost around Rs700,000.”

At the construction site for several boats in Ibrahim Hyderi, there are boats made from various types of wood. Some workers there were busy cutting the wood into planks and strips while others were smoothing it.

“We get Burma teak from Ghas Bandar but boats here are also constructed with Shisham, Keekar, Chilghoza and eucalyptus wood, that is locally produced as well,” he said while pointing to several piled up logs and chopped trees in a corner.

Sailing unanchored on troubled seas

There are also some fibreglass boats on which the carpenters have attached wooden borders and frames inside. “These boats are actually lifeboats taken off ships that come for breaking at Gadani. We buy these second-hand vessels in Shershah at around Rs800,000 each,” said Mohammad Rauf.

“And then after putting in the wooden frames and other additions, according to our needs, with fixing a proper engine, too, it costs around Rs2 million to Rs2.5m,” he said. “Each boat also has a fishing net, which can be any type. Nets, too, can cost you from Rs400,000 to Rs1.2m. The wire nets are very costly,” he added. “In case this boat is captured, it will mean a Rs2 million loss. Someone who has invested that kind of money in a fishing boat would be ruined if that happens.”

Kamal Shah of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) said that the boats were not really owned by the fishermen. “They are owned by ‘saiths’, who keep half of the earnings of the catch for themselves while the remaining half is distributed among the fishermen,” he said.

Meanwhile, all the wooden boats are polished with a special kind of fish liver oil every 15 days or a month. “This must be done in order to keep the wood from rotting in seawater,” said an old man polishing away a boat’s hull.

Obviously, the Pakistani boats captured by India must have lost all the polish by now as the Indian ones here. “Yes, but still repairs in the form of patching up the wood here and there can be carried out to make them seaworthy although it will cost millions. But then what is the use of giving back broken useless boats? That would only be junk,” said the PFF spokesman, who also hoped that the goodwill gesture by Pakistan would be reciprocated by India.

Dawn was not allowed to visit the place where the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) keeps all the captured Indian fishing boats. “We haven’t started the repairs yet. There was an Indian delegation visit here recently to inspect the boats and another visit is expected in August. Maybe you can also visit then but not right now,” said PMSA PRO Commander Farooq.

Published in Dawn, July 24th , 2014