Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Pakistan has roughly 1,000 recorded fish species when freshwater and marine fish are considered together. A national fisheries report published in 2026 gives the country about 193 freshwater species and 800 marine species. Because the marine figure is approximate, “roughly 1,000” is more accurate than claiming an exact total of 993.
Pakistan has roughly 1,000 recorded fish species when freshwater and marine fish are considered together. A national fisheries report published in 2026 gives the country about 193 freshwater species and 800 marine species—an arithmetic total of approximately 993, but not an exact census because the marine figure is itself approximate.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
That is why the safest short answer is “about 1,000 species,” rather than “exactly 993.” Depending on the source’s publication date, taxonomic treatment, geographic coverage, and decision about whether to include introduced or questionable records, published totals can be several hundred lower.
Pakistan’s fish species at a glance
| Category | Approximate count or description | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Freshwater fish | About 193 species | Fish of the Indus River system, tributaries, lakes, reservoirs, canals, wetlands and mountain streams |
| Marine fish | About 800 species | Fish of the Arabian Sea coast of Sindh and Balochistan |
| Marine species of commercial importance | About 120 species | A narrower group harvested or traded by marine fisheries |
| Broad national estimate | Roughly 1,000 species | A rounded combination of the freshwater and marine estimates |
These figures should not be treated as a permanently fixed checklist. Fish inventories change as researchers find new records, reclassify species, combine synonyms, remove erroneous records, or distinguish native fish from introduced populations.
#1 Best Overall
- Realistic Natural Environment: These fish tank decorations replicate the natural environment, and once placed in the tank, they are virtually indistinguishable from real plants. Your fish will enjoy the environment these plants provide, and they can play and hide in it
- Soft and Safe Design: The leaves are soft and lifelike without scratching the fish. They swing with the water waves in the fish tank, making them look very vivid and beautiful in the water. They can be planted in both freshwater and saltwater. Each plant has its own base for holding it in the gravel
- Low Maintenance Solution: Unlike live plants in fish tanks, plastic artificial plants do not need special lighting and other substrates. They neither die nor become wilted or unattractive. They remain beautiful all the time without any pruning
- Convenient Aquarium Setup:We provide the suitable aquarium products for different sizes of aquariums in order to save you time. Simply buy them according to your needs and place them in your fish tank to create a beautiful underwater world for your pet fish, making fish life more interesting and happier
- Complete Decoration Set: The set contains 1 rockery aquarium decoration, 3 short aquarium plants, 3 medium aquarium plants and 1 tall aquarium plant with a total of 8 different styles. Heights vary from 2 inches to 8 inches. Suitable for 5 gallon or larger fish tanks
Why published totals do not match
There is no single number that every source will produce, because the sources are answering slightly different questions.
Different dates and taxonomic decisions
A 2020 peer-reviewed study reported 531 fish species in Pakistan: 233 freshwater species and 298 marine species. That is a substantial total, but it should not be added to or directly compared with the later national estimate as though both were measurements from the same inventory. The study reflects the records and taxonomic scope available to its authors at that time, while the later fisheries report uses a broader current estimate, especially for marine fish.
FishBase provides another useful benchmark for freshwater species. Its country checklist lists 231 species currently present, 9 possibly present, and 3 demonstrated to be absent or erroneous, or 243 freshwater records when all those categories are shown together. That is a database checklist, not the same kind of national estimate as the fisheries report.
An earlier checklist by Mirza, catalogued through Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes at the California Academy of Sciences, recorded 183 freshwater species from Pakistan and Azad Kashmir in 2003. A 2003 checklist, a database’s current-presence count, a peer-reviewed 2020 inventory and a 2026 national estimate can all be legitimate within their own scope while producing different totals.
“Types” can mean different things
In this question, “types of fish” is best understood as fish species. It does not mean the number of fish families, genera, local market names or commercial categories.
It also does not mean every animal caught by fisheries. Shrimp, crabs, lobsters, mollusks and cephalopods are important aquatic or fishery resources, but they are not fish. Some marine field guides for Pakistan discuss these broader fishery resources alongside fish, so their total number of listed organisms should not be mistaken for a fish-only species count.
Rank #2
- Quality & Professional：The aquarium cave is made of ceramic with the function of filtering water， and it is environmentally friendly and odorless, imitating the natural stone texture to create a more natural visual effect.
- Visual feast：Aquarium decorative hiding cave provides you with a visual feast. It provides a "house" for your fish. The hollow caves provide shelter, hiding spots as well as spawning and privacy space for your fish.
- Multiple Placement：You can put it in the fish tank alone, or you can buy several fish tank caves of different sizes to put them together. In order to achieve the best aquarium decoration effect.
- Easy to clean： When you clean your fish tank, a simple rinse of the rock cave decorations with water is all you need.
- Make your Aquarium Vivid And Lively: Provide a natural environment feeling with vivid and detailed colors to add lively life to your aquarium.
Freshwater fish in Pakistan
Pakistan’s inland fish fauna is centered mainly on the Indus River system. It includes the main river and tributaries, irrigation canals, reservoirs, natural lakes, wetlands and high-altitude rivers in the north.
The national estimate is about 193 freshwater species, although specialized checklists may report different numbers. The fauna includes warm-water fish associated with rivers, ponds, reservoirs and aquaculture, as well as cold-water species found in mountain regions.
Examples of freshwater fish
- Labeo rohita, commonly called rohu
- Catla catla, or catla
- Cirrhinus mrigala, or mrigal
- Tor putitora, the golden mahseer
- Channa marulius and Channa striata, both snakeheads
- Wallago attu, a large freshwater catfish
- Sperata seenghala, another freshwater catfish
These examples represent several very different fish groups, including carps and minnows, mahseer, snakeheads and catfish. Other freshwater groups recorded in Pakistan include featherbacks, loaches, trout and additional mountain fishes.
Cold-water fish
Cold-water fish are concentrated mainly in northern Pakistan and its mountain waterways. An older FAO account identified 26 indigenous and 2 exotic cold-water species. The terminology in that source refers to administrative names used at the time, including the former North-West Frontier Province and Northern Areas, so it should be read as an older regional account rather than a current administrative description.
Trout are among the best-known cold-water fish associated with Pakistan. Brown trout and rainbow trout are also examples of exotic fish recorded in the country, rather than evidence that every fish in a mountain stream is native.
Recommended Free Tools
Introduced and farmed fish
Species recorded in Pakistan do not all have the same status. Some are native, some are introduced for aquaculture or ornamental use, and some may be occasional, uncertain or incorrectly reported. Including or excluding these categories can change a checklist total.
Rank #3
- The natural and detailed bark pattern resin hollow tree trunk ornament is great for nano beta fish and guppies.
- Made of durable resin material and natural brown colors are vivid and not washed out.
- Makes the tank look realistic and add much fun for the fish.
- There are 3 holes on the trunk fish decor, your lovely pet betta or other smaller fish would be super happy to go in and out the trunk cave to sleep, rest, hide, play, breed
- Measures 5.7" x 2.5" x 2.1" (L*W*H). Great for aquarium decorations, model making, terrarium, miniature garden and marine aquariums.
Official biodiversity reporting lists introduced or exotic fish such as:
- brown trout and rainbow trout;
- grass carp, silver carp, bighead carp and common carp;
- tilapias;
- goldfish;
- guppy, gambusia and mollies; and
- swordtails.
Farmed fish may be widespread in ponds or aquaculture facilities without being native members of Pakistan’s wild freshwater fauna. A careful answer therefore says “recorded fish species” rather than implying that every species is indigenous or naturally abundant throughout the country.
Marine and brackish-water fish
Pakistan’s marine fish occur along its Arabian Sea coastline, including coastal waters of Sindh and Balochistan. Fish also use estuaries, lagoons, tidal creeks and other brackish habitats where saltwater and freshwater mix.
The 2026 national fisheries estimate places the marine total at about 800 species. Approximately 120 marine species are described as commercially important, but that commercial figure is not a biodiversity total. It represents the much smaller group that supports fisheries, markets or significant trade.
Examples of marine fish groups
Pakistan’s marine and brackish-water fish include representatives of many groups, including:
- sardines and herrings;
- anchovies;
- eels and sea catfish;
- milkfish and lizardfish;
- flyingfish and needlefish;
- groupers and seabasses;
- snappers and trevallies;
- pomfrets;
- tuna and mackerel;
- croakers, also called jewfish in fisheries terminology;
- mullets and soles; and
- sharks and rays.
Commonly discussed commercial categories include sardine, hilsa, shark, mackerel, butterfish, pomfret, sole, tuna, seabream, croaker, catfish and eel. These are examples of fishery categories, not a complete list of every species found in Pakistani waters.
Rank #4
- CousDUoBe Fish Tank Decorations are made of high quality resin, hand-painted, will not pollute the water quality, will not affect the PH value, can be placed in the water for a long time
- Size: Broken barrel（ 2.8in x 2.8in x 4 in L x W x H），Aquarium Plants*8Pcs( 2.4 inch to 6.5 inch )
- Hand-painted Exterior: The old-style painting is done by Hand, and the broken starfish bucket adds a sense of age to your tank
- Low maintenance cost: Fish tank decorations need no lighting no trimming, suitable for fresh and sea water, Can provide attachment place for nitrifying bacteria
- Fun toys: Broken wine barrels can provide play, hiding and rest for betta fish, which is a great toy
Does Pakistan have exactly 993 fish species?
No—not as a scientifically precise national total. The number 993 comes from adding 193 freshwater species to “about 800” marine species. Since “about 800” is rounded, the resulting 993 is also only an approximate arithmetic result.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchFor general readers, the most accurate wording is:
Pakistan is home to roughly 1,000 recorded fish species. A recent national fisheries report counts about 193 freshwater species and around 800 marine species, although older and narrower checklists give lower totals.
This wording gives the reader the useful headline figure while making clear why it should not be presented as an exact, final census.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are all of these fish common or commercially important?
No. A species can be recorded in Pakistan without being common, widely distributed, native, commercially harvested or secure. The total is a measure of documented diversity, not a ranking of abundance or economic value.
Pakistan’s biodiversity reporting identifies declining freshwater populations among species including:
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
- Sisor rhabdophorus;
- Labeo calbasu;
- Barbodes sarana;
- Rita rita;
- Notopterus chitala;
- Notopterus notopterus;
- Tor putitora; and
- Tenualosa ilisha, commonly known as hilsa.
Threats include overfishing, pollution, river modification, water extraction, loss of wetlands and spawning habitat, invasive species and barriers that interrupt fish migration. A national species count therefore tells only part of the story: it records diversity, but not whether those fish remain abundant in a particular river, lake or coastal habitat.
Best Value
- Replicate the natural environment, once it's in the tank you can't even tell it's made of plastic. Your fish will enjoy the environment that these tall plants provide. They can swim and hide through the leaves.
- Unlike live plants, fish tank plastic artificial plants don’t need specialized lighting and other substrates. they won't die or become tattered and unattractive. they don't need any pruning and will stay beautiful alone.
- Soft, won't scratch fishes, the plant will swing with the water which looks real, could be planted both in freshwater and seawater. Each plant has its own anchor base for holding it in the gravel bed.
- Aquarium plastic plants are made of eco-free non-toxic PVC materials. They are absolutely safe for fish, they won’t die, rot or cause any algae problems,won't contaminate water, color won't fade.
- Ameliade cherry blossom tree fish tank decorations will add a vibrant touch to your fish tank, making it look more lively and attractive. Perfect for medium and large aquariums, and betta fish tanks.
Bottom line
Pakistan has roughly 1,000 recorded fish species under a broad modern estimate: about 193 freshwater species and 800 marine species. Lower figures, such as 531 total species in a 2020 study or 231 currently present freshwater species in FishBase, reflect narrower, older or differently defined inventories—not necessarily a contradiction. The exact number depends on what is counted, when it is counted and how species records are classified.
Sources and scope notes
- The approximately 193 freshwater and 800 marine figures come from a Pakistani fisheries task-force report published in 2026.
- The 531-species figure comes from a peer-reviewed 2020 study reporting 233 freshwater and 298 marine species.
- FishBase provides the freshwater checklist categories of 231 currently present, 9 possibly present and 3 absent or erroneous records.
- Mirza’s 2003 checklist recorded 183 freshwater species from Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.
- FAO fisheries material supplies the cold-water estimate and the marine and brackish-water group examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many fish species are there in Pakistan?
The best current broad estimate is roughly 1,000 recorded fish species, combining about 193 freshwater species with around 800 marine species. The total is approximate because the marine number is reported as “about 800.”
How many freshwater and marine fish species does Pakistan have?
The broad estimate includes about 193 freshwater species and approximately 800 marine species. Marine fish live along the Arabian Sea coast, while freshwater fish occur in the Indus River system, tributaries, lakes, reservoirs, canals, wetlands and mountain streams.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhy do sources give different numbers for Pakistan’s fish species?
No. Different sources count different geographic areas, dates and categories. A 2020 study reported 531 species, FishBase lists 231 freshwater species currently present, and a 2003 checklist recorded 183 freshwater species from Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.
Are all fish recorded in Pakistan native and common?
No. The total includes native, introduced, farmed, possibly present and sometimes questionable or erroneous records, depending on the source. A recorded species is not necessarily common, commercially important or secure.
The Bottom Line
Pakistan has roughly 1,000 recorded fish species in a broad modern estimate—about 193 freshwater and about 800 marine. Because the marine figure is approximate and different checklists use different dates and definitions, this should be treated as an informed estimate rather than an exact final count.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
