Chinese company releases fish on Biological Diversity Day

Islamabad: To mark the International Day for Biological Diversity, China Three Gorges Asia Africa Ltd. (CTGAAL) released 3,500 endangered Mahseer fingerlings into the waters at the Karot Hydro Power Project (KHPP).

The fish stocking was carried out under the Karot Biodiversity Management Plan at the Karot camp site. The event, organised by CTGAAL at KHPP, was attended by government officials from Punjab and Azad Kashmir, along with environmentalists, educators, students, and members of the local community.

They also walked to create awareness among the masses about the endangered Mahseer fish, Gwadar Pro reported on Friday.The 720 MW KHPP, a mega power project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is located at the border of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. The Karot Power Company Limited (KPCL) is the executive company of the project, with China Three Gorges as the sponsor.

On the occasion, CTGAAL CEO Zhou Qiang emphasised the “role of biodiversity as the cornerstone of the company’s operations in Asia and Africa.” Earlier this month, CTGAAL and the Int’l Union for Conservation of Nature established an Implementation Office for the Biodiversity Management Plan in Beor, Punjab, to “assist in coordinating the biodiversity protection work being done around the Karot project.” Mahseer is a highly sought-after game fish known for its larger size, capable of growing up to 2.75m in length and weighing as much as 54kg.