THATTA, Aug 24: The adviser to Sindh chief minister on fisheries and livestock, Faqir Jadim Mangrio, has said that after the abolition of contract system for fishing in Sindh’s wetlands no one would be allowed to dominate and exploit the livelihood of fishermen in the province.

Speaking at a gathering of fishermen and officials after inaugurating the foundation stone laying ceremony of a model village, Ramzan Mirbahar, near Keenjhar Lake here on Friday, Mr Mangrio said the project which cost Rs143.43 million would be completed in five years.

The village, comprising 127 houses, would have a mosque, primary schools, market, playground and other facilities.

Jadim Mangrio said despite strong opposition from MNAs and MPAs for lifting contract system on wetlands the government took the historic decision.

He said Rs5 billion exclusively for the benefits of fishermen communities had been approved and Rs50 billion were recommended for the next five years to extend maximum facilities to them.

He said 78 fish and shrimp hatcheries would be established in Sindh out of which five hatcheries would be established at Keenjhar Lake. He said the local fishermen would get jobs in these projects.

He said without consent of local fishermen no project will be fruitful for the area.

Our Hyderabad correspondent adds: The Rs40 million worth fish hatchery will increase production to one million seed and provide jobs to local people, said Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Livestock and Fisheries Faqir Jadim Mangrio, on Thursday while laying the foundation stone of hatchery at the Odh Bungalow some 30km from Sanghar.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz recently held a meeting with all provincial ministers in Islamabad and approved Rs50 million worth schemes for Sindh of which one was the Sanghar Fish Hatchery, he informed.

He further said the government plans to construct a model village worth Rs450 million during the current financial year near Chotiyarioon Dam with 300 homes for fishermen besides two cattle farms spread over 200 acres each in Sanghar and Khipro talukas. He said the land will be provided by Zila Nazim Sanghar Haji Khuda Bux Rajar.

Schemes of livestock costing about Rs40 billion and of fisheries valuing Rs9 billion were being implemented in the province, he said. The federal government will be contacted for setting up a dairy milk plant due to abundance of milk production in Sanghar, adviser said.