Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is working on a comprehensive plan in collaboration with the private sector for enhancing fish production, official sources said. Sources said that under a recent agreement between the government and the private sector, the company or contractor would be releasing two million fish breeds in the Mangla Lake during the next three years.
They said that the objective of the plan was not only to boost fish production in the lake but also to extend maximum guidance and co-operation to the amateur anglers in the wake of the already launched plan for the promotion of tourism sector in the liberated territory.
The plan, the sources pointed out, will provide attractive opportunities of recreation to the tourists pouring in from within the country as well as from abroad. At least 700,000 fish breed (Poong) from the family of Theil, Silver, Moori and Rahoo breeds were recently released in the Mangla dam lake, the sources said adding these breeds were contributed by Azad Jammu and Kashmir Anglers Association and private sector fishing company.
It may be added that the each fish breed will weigh two kilograms more in weight during next one year and up to five kilogram in weight during next two years which would be suitable as diet for the general consumption.
Huge waters of the Mangla dam reservoir have the capacity to produce 70 metric tons of fish in a year. Whereas only two metric ton of fish of popular breeds of Rahoo, Moori, Theil, Silver and Mahasheir are being presently caught from the lake every year.