The Punjab Fisheries Department, on the special directive of the Punjab Chief Minister, is supplying six million fish seeds of culture able species to all provinces including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the private sector.
Punjab Fisheries Director General Dr Muhammad Ayub, talking to newsmen here on Monday, explained that the seeds of major culture able fish species - Rahu, Mor, Thaila, Grass Carp, Silver Carp, Big Head Carp and Gulfam - were obtained in the millions through artificial breeding.
After rearing the fish seeds are supplied to the private sector across the country to meet the ever-increasing demand of fish farmers, while the seeds of the popular varieties are also released in natural water bodies to replenish the fish stock.
Dr Ayub said that Minister for Fisheries Jam Muhammad Hashim Ghalija had stressed the need to enhance artificial breeding of popular fish species for their economic importance.
He said the minister had directed that facilities for soil and water analysis be provided free to fish farmers across the province to boost production and help meet the protein needs of the people.
"Fish hatcheries in the province are being further facilitated and modernised to produce top quality fish seed, so that disease resistant culture able fish seeds may be made available to people in the private sector," he added.
The DG said a new fish hatchery over 30 acres land was being developed at Rahim Yar khan to meet the seed needs of the area and adjoining districts.
He disclosed that the Fisheries Department, despite unfavourable climatic conditions and increasing aquatic pollution, had earned 40 percent more revenue in the last fiscal (2003-04) compared to the year before.