Key Takeaways
- The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Livestock and Fisheries Department conducted Pakistan's first online fishing auction.
- Arif & Brothers emerged as the highest bidder for Zebi Dam, offering Rs. 3.051 million.
- The new bid represents a significant increase of 155% over the previous lease value.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has successfully conducted Pakistan’s first-ever online fishing auction, marking a significant step towards digital governance and transparent fisheries management. The auction was held for Zebi Dam in Karak and concluded on Wednesday through a fully digital bidding process.
According to officials from the KP Livestock and Fisheries Department, Arif & Brothers emerged as the highest bidder with an offer of Rs. 3.051 million, compared to the reservoir’s previous lease value of Rs. 1.2 million. This bid represents a substantial increase in government revenue by 155%.
The department highlighted that the new system removes middlemen and reduces human intervention, maintaining a complete digital audit trail and supporting real-time competitive bidding. Eligible individuals and companies from across Pakistan can participate remotely, enhancing transparency and public confidence.
Following this successful auction, the department plans to e-auction fishing rights for 17 more public water bodies, including Tarbela Dam, through the same platform. The department is also developing a Digital Reservoir Management System (DRMS) to support scientific monitoring, conservation, resource management, and evidence-based policymaking.
Livestock Secretary Zariful Maani stated that reserve prices for all 17 dams and reservoirs had been set for the 2026-29 lease period after assessing the fisheries production and revenue potential of each water body. He noted that the revised reserve prices are more than double the previous lease amounts in most cases, reflecting the untapped economic potential of the reservoirs.
The biggest increase has been proposed for Tarbela Dam, where the reserve price has been raised from Rs. 150 million to Rs. 350 million. The reserve price for Gomal Zam Dam has increased from Rs. 19 million to Rs. 30 million, while Jalozai Dam’s reserve price has jumped from Rs. 2.7 million to Rs. 34 million.
Mardankhel Dam also attracted the highest bid of Rs. 536,000. Notably, no individual or company had submitted a bid for this dam during the previous manual auction for the 2023-26 period. The department has set reserve prices for dams that remained unauctioned during the previous cycle, bringing more public assets into the government’s revenue stream.
The new online system is expected to improve transparency, strengthen public confidence, support ease of doing business, and generate higher returns from public assets. With these initiatives, the KP government aims to harness the economic potential of its water bodies while ensuring sustainable management practices.
