New hatcheries and nursery units to be established : DG Fisheries Punjab Iftikhar Ahmed Qureshi

Lahore: Director General Fisheries Punjab Iftikhar Ahmed Qureshi has said that Rs.632 million are being spent on the establishment of new hatcheries and nursery units to meet the growing demand of fish seed, besides the use of barren lands for fisheries purpose.

In first phase, 60 acres of land has been procured in Lahore at Bhaseen at a cost of Rs.14 million to establish a large hatchery whereas suitable lands are being examined for other districts. He said that main objective of the project is to provide quality fish seed to the fish farmers.

He disclosed this while presiding over a review meeting regarding ongoing development projects. Deputy Director Planning & Development Ansar Mehmood Chatha and other concerned officers were also present on this occasion. DG Fisheries said that five nursery units over five acres of land each will be set up in Pakpattan, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Chiniot and Nankana Sahib and in this regard suitable land is being explored and after necessary settlement, it will be procured in the next financial year.

He said that through establishment of a large fish seed hatchery in Lahore and nursery units in five districts, production of additional quality fish seed of culturable fish species could be possible as well as problems of fish farmers would also be addressed as these districts are lacking this facility.

Iftikhar Ahmed Qureshi said that in order to meet fish seed requirements of the public and private sectors, barren lands would be utilized for the promotion of fisheries and in this regard a comprehensive plan has been devised at a cost of Rs.165 million. He further said that 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 and it will be supplied for natural waters in Dera Ghazi Khan Division and fish farms set up in private sector.