Fish farming: Land purchased for setting up hatchery

Fisheries Dept will also set up five nurseries next year

LAHORE: Fisheries Department director general Iftikhar Ahmed Qureshi said on Sunday that Rs632 million would be spent on establishment of new hatcheries and nurseries to meet the growing demand for fish seed in the province.

He said a 60-acre plot of land had been purchased in Bhaseen area of Lahore at a cost of Rs14 million to establish a hatchery. He said surveys were underway in other districts to find suitable plots of land for the purpose.

He was speaking at a meeting to review ongoing development projects of the department. Fisheries DG said five nurseries would be set up under the project in the next fiscal year in Pakpattan, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Chiniot and Nankana Sahib districts. He said each nursery would be spread over five acres.

He said he hoped that once the hatchery and the nurseries were functional, they would help the department solve problems faced by fish farmers across the province.

Qureshi said the government was also considering a proposal to establish fish hatcheries and nurseries in areas where there was no agriculture.

He said a comprehensive plan had been devised for the purpose which was expected to cost the provincial exchequer around Rs165 million.

He said that under the proposal a fish seed hatchery would be established in Rajanpur district.

He said the facility was expected to increase fish seed production in the province from 600 to 800 metric tons.

Planning and Development Board deputy director Ansar Mehmood Chatha was also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2016.