LAHORE (February 23 2004): In order to provide quality fish at reduced rates to the people, the provincial government has decided to set up Model Fish Marketing Centres and some more hatcheries in all the big cities and extend soft-term loans to the farmers for increasing production.

"The Fisheries Department has planned to establish at least six Model Marketing Centres across the province, to set up a Fish Museum at the provincial metropolis and enhance the fish production from present 57,000 metric tonnes to at least one lakh metric tonnes by the end of year. A summary in this regard has been sent for the approval of the Chief Minister."

Provincial Minister for Fisheries, Jam Muhammad Hashim stated this while talking to newsmen here on Sunday.

He said the government has allocated a sum of Rs 120 million in the fiscal budget 2003-04 for the promotion of the fisheries.

He said that a research-oriented programme was being carried out utilising latest techniques to get new breeds of fish and acquire more production. The department was already providing financial as well as technical assistance in this regard, he added.

"Viewing the importance and increasing use of the commodity, the Fisheries Department has decided to extend soft-term loans to the farmers, which can play significant role in improving the economic situation, and hence it has sought Chief Minister's nod,' he said.

The people were now turning towards fish use from the chicken after spreading the "bird flu," he observed.

The minister said that the government has also chalked out a plan to export fish in other countries and earn foreign exchange, for which some parties from the Middle East and Central Asian countries have shown interest.

Courtesy Business Recorder