PESHAWAR: Minister for livestock, fisheries and cooperatives Fazal Hakeem Khan Yousafzai has said that the government will extend all possible assistance to restore the fish farms that were either damaged or destroyed during the 2022 floods.

He expressed these views while talking to delegations of trout fish farmers’ association from Swat and other districts of Malakand division here on Friday.

Director general fisheries Mohammad Arshad Aziz, DG livestock (research) Dr Ijaz Ali, president trout fish farmers’ association Mutwakil Khan, Fazal Mabood Khan, deputy director of fisheries, Malakand Sajjad Khan and others were also present on the occasion.

The minister said that the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was taking serious steps to resolve the problems of trout farmers.

In this regard, the minister immediately contacted the Swat deputy commissioner and gave him necessary instructions on the demand of the association. He also directed the relevant officials in Swat and Malakand to immediately take all measures to prevent and cure fish diseases.

The minister also directed the inspection of fisheries farms, and provision of full technical assistance and guidance to the farms’ owners to increase the breeding and production of fish.

On this occasion, the director general fisheries said that with the support of Japan International Cooperation Agency workshops would be organised in Swat soon to impart training to farmers on modern lines about trout fish feed, breeding and treatment of diseases to further promote the trout industry in the region.

The members of the trout farmers’ association expressed their thanks to the provincial minister for his cooperation in resolving their problems.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2024