KHAPLU: Pakistan’s northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan witnesses increased fish consumption during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, members of the local business community say, with most people opting to break their fast with exotic fish dishes made using fresh catch.
Fish farming, most notably of freshwater trout, is a popular occupation in Gilgit-Baltistan. According to Ghulam Muhyiddin, a director at the Gilgit-Baltistan Fisheries Department, 400 tons of fish is produced in the northern region’s 200 fish farms every year. The industry generates at least Rs400 million ($2.6 million) in yearly revenues.
Ali Shah, 45, said he goes to his farm each Ramadan afternoon to fish, before deciding the evening’s iftar menu. Like other locals, Shah marinates the catch with condiments for about two hours before cooking it.
“The demand for fish goes up significantly during Ramadan,” Shah said. “Most people believe their table is incomplete without fish on their iftar menu.”
In this undated photo, a man poses for a photograph with his catch in Astore district of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan (Photo courtesy social media)
He added that while he served eight different recipes — “each one better than the other” — fried fish was the most popular in the region.
The vice president of the Fish Farmer Association of Gilgit-Baltistan’s Ghizer district, Qasim Shah, said tourists especially demanded fish dishes.
“All national and international tourists who visit Gilgit-Baltistan should order trout fish,” he said. “Its demand more than doubles during Ramadan and the crystal-clear water of our mountainous region enhances its taste.”
Fish farming was a major source of income in Gilgit-Baltistan, Shah said, but needed government attention to prosper.
Domestic tourists pulling out fish from Hidden Chumik Resort Saling, Ghanche district, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan on April 15, 2021 (Photo courtesy: Abbas Sahar Photographer)
Currently, locals say the industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, as tourism has dried up.
“Coronavirus has also badly affected the fish farm industry in GB and the fish farmers are suffering huge losses as tourism flow has reduced,” Hatam Ali, a fishing expert, told Arab News. “We sell 30 to 40kg of fish from our own farms every day before the pandemic, now we scarcely sell 3 to 5kg … From this you can guess the losses of or community.”
Still, he said, Ramadan had brought some respite.
