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Model fish marketing centres in offing
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
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