MINISTER BILAL AFZAL VOWS TO BOOST SHRIMP INDUSTRY IN PUNJAB*
Lahore. July 18: Caretaker Minister for Fisheries, Forests, Planning and Environment Punjab Bilal Afzal has said that the plan to build a network of shrimp breeding farms on 4,000 acres was in a bid to start in Punjab, whereas there is a capacity for breeding shrimp on 9 million acres in the province. He was presiding over a seminar organized by the Fisheries department in this regard at Fisheries Complex Manawan on Tuesday. Bilal Afzal said that the Punjab government would involve the private sector in shrimp production and give it various incentives including sub-seeds in seed and feed and all kinds of technical assistance. He directed the Fisheries Department to formulate an effective policy keeping in view the international standards and remove the loopholes in the existing laws and rules to boost shrimp production.
The provincial minister said that the ongoing pilot project for shrimp breeding should be completed without further delay. He said that the establishment of shrimp farms would create ample employment opportunities and help in alleviating poverty, unemployment and malnutrition besides promoting various local industries allied to it. Bilal Afzal said that this project may play an important role in the strengthening of the country’s economy by making the waste lands useful. He said, “shrimp is very helpful in meeting the important nutritional needs and its export will also earn valuable foreign exchange.” The provincial minister assured that by solving the problems of the fish industry on a priority basis for the marketing and export of fish, they would make aquaculture an important part of agriculture in Punjab. Bilal Afzal directed the department to prepare a feasibility report for establishing world class fish market in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan.
In the seminar, DG Fisheries Sikandar Hayat and other officers while giving a briefing said that shrimp hatcheries are being established in Lilla District Jhelum and Rajanpur and several steps are being taken for the effective involvement of the private sector in this industry. On this occasion, private fish farmers explained the problems of the industry and also gave several suggestions by taking active part in the discussions.
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