LAHORE: The Punjab government is spending over Rs 630 million on the establishment of new fish hatcheries and nursery units besides using of barren lands for fisheries purpose.
This was stated by Punjab Fisheries Department Director General Dr Muhammad Ayub, while presiding over a review meeting regarding ongoing development projects. He said that main objective of the project is to provide quality fish seed to farmers.
The DG said that a large hatchery is being established in Lahore at Bhaseen on 60 acres of land, whereas five nursery units of over six acres land each are being set up in Pakpattan, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Chiniot and Nankana Sahib. He pointed out that through establishment of a large fish seed hatchery and nursery units in five districts, production of additional three million quality fish could be possible as well as problems of fish farmers would also be addressed as these districts were lacking this facility.
Dr Ayub said in order to fulfil fish seed requirements of the public and private sectors, barren lands would be utilised for the promotion of fisheries and in this regard a comprehensive plan has been devised with a cost of over Rs 160 million. He said under this project, a fish seed hatchery would be established in Rajanpur district with an annual production capacity of up to five million which would be supplied for natural waters in Dera Ghazi Khan division and fish farms set up in private sector.
It would increase fish production up to 600 to 800 metric tons adding that the project would result in promotion of fish farming in Dera Ghazi Khan division and modernisation besides building up the capacity of the three existing fish seed nursery units at Gujja (Muzaffargarh), Jampur (Rajanpur) and Drahama (DG Khan), he added.
