June 13, 2011
Pakistani government sets up Tarbela Dam hatchery to fulfill demands
Pakistan's Khyber Pakthunkhwa government has decided to set up a fish hatchery for Tarbela Dam to meet the high demands of meat and protect the endangered aquatic species.
"The hatchery will be set up over 100 kanal of land aimed at bolstering the fishery sector in Khyber Pakthunkhwa," Environment Minister KPK, Wajid Ali Khan, said on Sunday. The government has given preference to those sectors and areas, which were neglected in the past, he said, adding that new projects have been proposed for afforestration in different areas of the province.
The projects related to urban forestry, management of degraded range resources, expansion of non-timber forest produce, conservation and propagation of wildlife, and management of aquatic resources would be given priority in the fiscal year 2011-12, he maintained.
In addition to the establishment of nurseries over 50 acres of and, linear plantation will be carried out over 500 kilometres besides direct sowing over 550 acres, he said. Likewise, 8000 acres would be brought under rangeland management. The government has allocated PKR792 million (US$9.2 billion) for 61 forestry projects including 50 ongoing and 11 new, the Minister informed.
He said that considerable allocation have been made for conducting feasibility studies of environment friendly technologies in existing and new brick kilns, solid waste management support programme for tourists sites in Hazara division.
Moreover, he said, efforts would be made to improve indoor ambient air quality and control programme in the province, saying that PKR74 million (US$864,000) has been allocated for environment sector for implementation of 16 projects.
To a question, he said that Khyber Pakthunkhwa government has presented a balance budget in the current circumstances. He said that budget is pro-poor and peoples friendly with special directs on social welfare programmes. He said that maximum relief was provided to poor segment of the society besides increase pay and pension of government employees.
