Common sharks in Pakistan include four species of hammerhead – the great hammerhead, the scalloped hammerhead, the smooth hammerhead, the Winghead shark, the blacktip reef shark, and the whale shark. However, the shark population in the country is down by 85% due to indiscriminate fishing, and conservation efforts must be undertaken.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in Pakistan
| Species | Maximum Size | Aggressiveness |
| Big Eye Thresher Shark | 11-16 feet | Not aggressive |
| Bigeye Houndshark | 1.2-1.21 feet | Not aggressive |
| Blacktip Shark | 5-8 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Blacktip Reef Shark |
3-4 feet | Moderately aggressive (if provoked) |
| Great Hammerhead Shark | 15-20 feet | Highly aggressive |
Longfin Mako Shark |
12-14 feet | Highly aggressive |
Milk Shark |
3.6-3.7 feet | Not aggressive |
| Oceanic Whitetip Shark | 5-8 feet | Not aggressive |
Pelagic Thresher Shark |
13-18 feet | Not aggressive |
Sandbar Shark |
5.5-8.5 feet | Not aggressive |
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark |
9-12 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Shortfin Mako Shark |
6.5-9.5 feet | Highly aggressive |
Sicklefin Lemon Shark |
10-12 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Silky Shark |
7-10 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Smooth Hammerhead Shark | 8-12 feet | Not aggressive (but are potentially dangerous) |
Tiger Shark |
10-14 feet | Highly aggressive |
Whale Shark |
18-32 feet | Not aggressive |
Whitetip Reef Shark |
3-5.5 feet | Moderately aggressive (only when provoked) |
| Winghead Shark | 6-6.2 feet | Not aggressive |
FAQs
1. Do great white sharks live in the waters around Pakistan?
While not seen regularly, as the great white is a migratory species, it may occasionally appear in Pakistani waters.
2. Can you go diving with sharks in Pakistan?
At Charna Island, you may encounter sharks while scuba diving.
