Punjab government is spending Rs 632 million on setting up of new hatcheries and nursery units to meet the growing demand of fish seed, besides the use of barren lands for fisheries purpose. While presiding over a review meeting regarding the ongoing development projects on Friday, the Director General Fisheries Punjab, Iftikhar Ahmed Qureshi said that 60 acres of land has been procured in Lahore at Bhaseen at a cost of Rs 14 million to establish a large hatchery in first phase whereas suitable lands are being identified in other districts. The main objective of the project is to provide quality fish seed to the fish farmers, he said. Each nursery comprising five acres of land would be set up in Pakpattan, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Chiniot and Nankana Sahib for which suitable land is being identified that would be procured in the next financial year. Following setting up of a large fish seed hatchery in Lahore and nursery units in five districts, the production of additional quality fish seed of culturable species could be possible. Qureshi said that barren lands would be utilised for the promotion of fisheries to meet the fish seed requirements of the public and private sectors. A comprehensive plan has also been devised at a cost of Rs 165 million. Under this project, a fish seed hatchery would be established in Rajanpur district which will increase the production capacity of fish seed from 600 to 800 metric tons that would be supplied for natural waters in Dera Ghazi Khan Division and fish farms set up in private sector, he added.
2016 Business Recorder.