Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian dedicates new state-of-the-art fisheries' office worth Rs 84 lakh

Ludhiana, July 24, 2025: Punjab Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries, Gurmeet Singh Khudian, today inaugurated a new administrative office for the Fisheries Department in Chhawani Mohalla, constructed at a cost of Rs 84 lakh. The state-of-the-art facility aims to streamline services and provide enhanced support to fish and shrimp farmers across Punjab.

Speaking at the inauguration, Minister Khudian highlighted Punjab’s robust fisheries sector, noting that the state produces 2 lakh tons of fish annually, with approximately 43,683 acres dedicated to fish farming. He emphasized that the new office will serve as a one-stop hub for fish farmers, enabling smoother access to resources and services. He urged farmers to adopt fish farming as a lucrative auxiliary occupation to boost their income, assuring them of comprehensive support from the state government.

The Minister also extended his heartfelt greetings to all fish and shrimp farmers, acknowledging their vital contribution to the state’s economy. He also reiterated that the Punjab government is dedicated to strengthening the fisheries sector and promoting sustainable agricultural practices to enhance the livelihoods of farmers across the state. He added that the Fisheries department has enabled fish farmers in the five south-western districts of Punjab—Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Bathinda, Mansa, and Faridkot to earn a net profit of Rs 2.50 to Rs 4.00 lakh by bringing thousands of acres of barren, saline, and waterlogged land under shrimp farming.

Director of Fisheries Gurpreet Singh stated that under the guidance of the Cabinet Minister and the directions of Principal Secretary Rahul Bhandari, 40 per cent to 60 per cent subsidy is being provided by the state government to farmers to adopt various projects such as fish and shrimp ponds, purchase of fish transport vehicles, fish kiosks/shops, cold storage plants, fish feed mills and ornamental fish units. Encouraging farmers to engage in fish farming, he highlighted that the department has already provided self-employment to 637 beneficiaries and disbursed subsidies worth Rs 30.63 crores to fish farmers.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Amarjit Bains, Assistant Director JS Grewal, and others were also present.