QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani on Wednesday was briefed on development schemes proposed by the environment, fisheries and forest departments for the next financial year.

A meeting presided over by the chief minister approved concept paper of a project for setting up an environmental lab in Hub.

“Plans have been made to conduct a study about solid waste management and to build an office of the Environment Protection Agency in Gwadar,” the environment secretary informed the meeting.

“The Concept Clearance Committee has cleared seven concept papers of the fisheries department for the next financial year,” officials of the fisheries department told the meeting.

Establishment of cage farms, a mobile quality control laboratory, a model fish farm, recirculating hatchery system and fish processing facility have been proposed, the meeting was informed.

“Concept papers of four schemes proposed by the forest department for new annual development programme have been cleared,” the forestry secretary said.

A plan has been proposed to improve the rangelands for food security in the Sulaiman Range.

Establishment of a mangrove research centre and development of eco-tourism in the Shaban Valley have been proposed.

Three schemes have been proposed by the Balochistan Coastal Development Authority and plans are afoot to build a slipway in Gadani.

A plan for the development of tourist sites has also been proposed.

The chief minister said environmental plans should be prepared keeping in view the climate change.

He directed the authorities to review the cost of some of the proposed projects.

“Cage farming schemes on canals should be proposed instead of dams and registration of existing fish feed mills should be started immediately,” he said.

Mr Alyani said a fisheries policy should be formulated and steps be taken for acquiring modern machinery for fish processing. A feasibility study of all jetties should be conducted and work on the concept of promoting forestry through drip irrigation should be started, he said.

Provincial Minister for Livestock and Environment Mitha Khan Kakar, Chief Secretary Mathar Niaz Rana, the additional chief secretary Plan­n­ing and Development, principal sec­re­tary to the Chief Minister, secretaries of Finance, Environment, For­ests and Wildlife, Information depa­rtments, director general of the Bal­ochistan Coastal Development Authority and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2021