Boat builders keep fishing heritage afloat
Summary
In Karachi’s Ibrahim Hyderi, boat builders continue handcrafting traditional wooden fishing vessels despite the rise of industrial shipbuilding. The work preserves a centuries-old maritime heritage that remains central to the local fishing community.
Key Points
- Ibrahim Hyderi on the outskirts of Karachi is known for building traditional fishing boats that have supported the city’s fishing sector for generations.
- Local craftsmen still assemble wooden vessels timber by timber, even as industrial shipbuilding grows.
- Boat-building is slow and labor-intensive, with small boats taking up to three months and costing around one million Pakistani rupees.
- Workers and fishermen say the boats carry deep sentimental and cultural value for the community.
