Muhammad Usman
Eminent speakers at a seminar at the Government College University (GCU) Lahore have emphasized on growing fisheries industry on scientific lines, saying that the country has a great potential for fish farming which needed government support and collaboration among universities, research institutions and farming industry.
In his keynote address at the seminar organized by the GC University’s Zoology Department in connection with the World Fisheries Day, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Asghar Zaidi stressed that the promotion of aquaculture and safe utilization of aquatic resources was very crucial particularly for our economic growth, employment generation and social prosperity.
“This can only be achieved if people from industry, academia, investors and government work together and transform this into research oriented industry,” the Vice Chancellor said. The seminar, held in collaboration with the Pakistan Fisheries Society (PFS), Tawakal Fish Hatcheries and AlTech Pakistan Pvt. Ltd, was followed by an awareness walk and inauguration of PFS Headquarters GCU.
PSF President Dr Muhammad Ayub said that this year, the theme of the World Fisheries Day 2020 was “end human trafficking and force labor in fisheries”.
Dr. Noor Elahi and Mr Sami Ullah Khan from Himalya Fish Hatchery highlighted the challenges and opportunities to establish a fish hatchery in Pakistan, saying that some organizations should provide funding facilities for fisheries sector.
Mr Shahid Iqbal Sindhu from Tawakkal Fish Hatchery signified the importance of training prior to establishment of fish farm. Dr. Shahzad Naveed Jadoon from Altech international, Pvt. Ltd. presented a model of academia-industry link showing how could Pakistan aquaculture industry flourish by enhancing the export.
GCU Zoology Department Chairperson Prof. Dr. Atif Yaqub said the growth rate of aquaculture was quite low in Pakistan.
