LAHORE, Dec 30: The Punjab fisheries department will launch a Rs20 million project in January to upgrade research and training activities in the province.

Fisheries department deputy director Muhammad Tariq Hashmi told Dawn on Tuesday that the project would be completed by 2006.

He said it would involve strengthening the Fisheries Research and Training Institute (FR&TI) besides organizing the management, development and utilization of fisheries on scientific lines. “Aquaculture is emerging as the best way to make up the deficiency of animal protein, and the department is launching the project keeping this fact in view.”

At present, he said the FR&TI in Lahore was engaged in research activities like fish nutrition, fish pathology, biology and ecology, water chemistry and training of officials and farmers.

Mr Hashmi said the project would help in not only enhancing these research activities and infrastructure but also in promoting development-oriented technologies for sustainable development in Punjab.

“The planned facilities would also help in mobilizing private sector’s investment in fish farms and earning foreign exchange through value-added products for international trade and training of overseas students,” he said, adding that fish farmers and traders would also benefit from the project.

Mr Hashmi said the department would also launch fisheries economics to make fish farms in the private sector more viable.