Lahore:
The Punjab government has launched a large plan of 50 billion rupees to increase shrimp agriculture across the province, aimed at transforming the sector into a major contributor to the local economy and the export of profits.
The main components of the initiative include the development of a fishing market model in Lahore and three areas of the value chain of advanced shrimp in the Muzaffargarh Du Punjab district.
According to the Fisheries Department, a 3,000 acres shrimp agriculture site will be created in Rakh Ali Wala, Muzaffargarh, with an initial investment of 10 billion rupees.
In addition, the fields of the chief value chain Muhammad Wala, Rakh Ali Wala and Shahgarh will be developed at a combined cost of 40 billion rupees. The Punjab government has assigned 3 billion rupees in the next budget budget to initiate these projects.
Deputy Director of Fishing, Tayyab Rizwan, said that the value chain are fully integrated, with hatching, food factories and shrimp treatment factories.
These installations should not only improve the production of shrimp, but also generate a job and stimulate seafood exports.
In Lahore, the government plans to build a modern market in the fish market at a expected cost of 10 billion rupees.
Installation will include cold storage, value -added units and a rationalized supply chain network to improve market access for fish and shrimp farmers. An initial budget allocation of 848.6 million rupees was approved to start construction.
