Govt to give 80pc subsidy on fish farming: Chief Minister

LAHORE: A meeting held under the chair of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar reviewed development projects relating to Wildlife and Fisheries Department.

Formal approval was given for setting up fish markets throughout the province. The chief minister said that the Punjab government will provide 80 per cent subsidy for promoting fish farming. While approving saline water aquaculture research centre in Muzaffargarh, he said five thousand cages will be placed for fisheries at different barrages including Chashma, Taunsa barrages and Head Panjnad. It was also decided in principle to launch the cage fish culture cluster development programme for the promotion of fisheries.

He said that capacity building training will be provided to 750 fish farmers. Soon, the hatchery project will be inaugurated in Fazilpur, he added. He said that three fish nursery units are being built-in Darama, Gujja and Jampur. Tilapia fish farm is being set up in Muzaffargarh as well, he added. Farms would be set up at 2.5 thousand acres under shrimp farming cluster development project. A programme of producing three thousand metric ton prawns annually is being started in Punjab which will provide job opportunities to more than two thousand people. He directed for completing projects as soon as possible for promoting fisheries. Minister for Forest, Wildlife and Fisheries Asad Khokhar, Secretary Finance, Secretary Forests, Wildlife & Fisheries, DG Fisheries and others attended the meeting.