Fisheries Dept announces launch of Rs 1.3bn schemes

[LRE]

Fisheries Dept announces launch of Rs 1.3bn schemes

Staff Report

KARACHI: Sindh Fisheries Department Tuesday announced launch of 15 development schemes and programmes worth Rs 1.3 billion.

These schemes were aiming to enhance shrimp farming and promoting aqua culture in coastal areas of the province by means of improving and augmenting existing infrastructure, Anwar ul Islam, director fisheries, research and development, Sindh Fisheries Department said.

All these projects and development schemes are expected to be completed from 3 to 5 years and will facilitate fisher community one way or another and help them utilisation of modern gadgets for improving their catch.

He explained in detail all development projects to be executed by the provincial government specially those, which would be beneficial for the fisher folk community including provision of residential and transport facilities for them.

The department has chalked out comprehensive master plan aimed at promoting aqua culture in the province and Sindh Chief Minister has approved around 20,000 acres of the land in Sindh interior for development of shrimp farming which would boost country’s export to substantial level.

He said the department has planned to build some 400 residential units, titled model villages with a cost of Rs 481.825 million for fishermen, 100 each in Ghugro Kar Zero Point Badin, Kinjhar Lake District Thatta, Manchar Lake District Dadu and Dabla Para Rehri Karachi with all basic facilities of life.

Another major project includes construction of landing platform, chilling storage and processing facilities at Zero point Badin, Keenjhar Lake Thatta, Manchar Lake Dadu and Hora Jetty at Karachi Fish Harbour with a cost Rs 334.836 million.

He said after the completion of the new construction at Mubaral Goth, Karachi, working pressure on present fish harbour would be eased up to some extent, as some of the arriving trawlers would be diverted to the new harbour.

He said provision of fishing gears and plastic craters to fishermen besides modification of their boats were also part of the development schemes, which would cost the government Rs 352 million.

Main features of this scheme include supply of boats with engine to coastal and inland fishermen, supply of fishing nets and bicycles, insulated boxes, plastic basket and crates.

Federal Government has planned to give boost to this sector in all four provinces with an amount of Rs 2 billion. In Sindh, the federal allocation would be used for establishment of three demonstration shrimp farms on 10 hectare and shrimp farm on 300 hectare.

Marine Fisheries Surveillance in coastal areas are also part of the development program as under the same effective enforcement of Sindh Fisheries Ordinance regarding ban of shrimp in close season, to regulate mesh size in creeks and provide guidance to fishermen living in remote areas to harness natural resources in most effective manner by observing the conservation measures and the whole scheme would cost Rs 15.226 million.

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