Demand for rising fish between rising meat prices.
As the holy month of Ramadan continues, a unique trend has emerged in the Peshawar dynamic eating scene: Inquiry fish has become a favorite dish for Iftar parties, which has attracted the increasing number of the city’s famous Namak Mandi Food Street.
On Sunday, the area echoed actively when locals gathered to be involved in mouth -watering fish, which had inquiry from several spicy sauces.
Nasser Ali, a 40 -year -old fish vendor, who works for a famous meal in the Nampa Mandi, was seen working hard to fulfill the orders of the growing number.
Freshly surrounded by a coffee reservoir of loaded fish, Ali and his three teams cook a variety of fish, including Rahu, Sharmi, Mehshar And the demand as a grass carp increases.
Despite the pressure of Nasir’s efforts, the Iftar Rush, the consumers were focused on offering timely food, many of which took food for the Iftar parties.
Nasir explained, “The recent increase in meat and poultry prices has changed the choice of food during the Iftar.” “Seafood, especially inquiry fish, has become a more popular and affordable option for people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
He said that the demand for fish has increased not only in Peshawar but across the province, which provides positive economic promotion to local businesses.
Ali, who moved to the fish business after failing to secure a government job 20 years ago, now enjoys a successful career by providing employment to three other people.
According to him, about 200,000 people are directly or indirectly included in the KP fishing sector. He added that the species of the province’s ancestral fish were more suitable for local markets, as the cost of transportation from places like Sindh and Balochistan has made fish less economically.
Many consumers, such as Nawoshra resident Riaz Khan, have prepared preference for inquiry fish in Iftar.
He said, “Inquiry fish is my favorite dish, especially during Ramadan,” he added that he and his family have visited the Nickel Market to enjoy fish and tasteful sauce. He also noted that the prices of inquiry fish were significantly lower than meat or poultry in Peshawar.
When the Namak Mandi is becoming increasingly popular for locals, Riaz Khan formally demanded the area to be recognized as a designated food street, which will attract more visitors in hopes and promote the local economy after Ramadan.
Mohammad Zobir, director of the Fisheries Department, said that after Ramadan increased meat and poultry prices in KP, fish requirements increased.
“Pakistan, which is a country rich in water resources from marine, salty and fresh water reserves, is a home of a vast diversity of water life,” he said.
According to the fishing department, there are 531 species of fish across the country, including 233 freshwater species from rivers, lakes and ponds in KP. Freshwater ponds cover 60,470 hectares of area, and natural hot water lakes are spread over 110,000 hectares.
However, despite the abundance of resources, fish consumption is low in Pakistan, in normal days, consumption per person stands at only two kilograms per year compared to the average average of the global average.
Dr. Mohammad Naeem, a professor from the University of Sobi, highlighted the profits of fish farming and its important potential for promoting Pakistan’s economy.
Dr. Naeem said, “If the country provides financial privileges to the farmers of fish, it can remove some of the economic challenges facing it.”
He pointed to a significant increase in seafood exports, which earned the country more than Rs 12.40 billion, adding that the fishing sector has a bright future, especially with the completion of the second phase of China -Pakistan economic transit.
In recent years, fish production in Pakistan has increased rapidly. In the financial year of 2016-17, the country manufactured 477,000 metric tonnes of fish, which increased significantly by only 8,430 metric tons in 2010.
However, challenges such as excessive fishing, aquatic pollution, and climate change impact the stability of fish cultivation in Pakistan. Desi Sharmi fish found in the Kabul River is especially weak due to pollution and high fishing.
Zuber emphasized the need to take strict action to protect the dangerous species, which suggests that measures such as banning and preventing contaminated water emissions in the river can help keep it safe for future generations.
In KP, the demand for fish farming is on the rise, and the provincial government is taking steps to support the development of the industry. Under the ‘Development of Cold Water Fisheries Resources’, joint federal and provincial efforts are underway to set up 297 trout leaks in Malakand and Hazara divisions.
In addition, trout farming has become increasingly popular in these areas, with projects such as Trout Village Initiative have been seen in the establishment of 93 trout fish farms.
These efforts are expected to increase the production of fish in the province, which will likely increase from 400 metric tons to 740 metric tons in the coming years.
Usman Ali, general secretary of the Swat Trout Fish Farming Association, emphasized the importance of helping trout farmers with privileges and better infrastructure.
He called for further development of trout farming in the region, which cited the possibility of production for taxes. He explained, “A farmer in which 50 marlas and proper water management can produce 3,000 kilograms of trout, which can earn about 25 million rupees at profit.”
Despite the challenges facing the fishing sector, the effects of climate change on trout farming are significant. With the right investment and policies, Pakistan can further strengthen its fishing resources, which has strengthened both its economy and food safety.
Since the Peshawar Iftar scene continues to be popular, the fishing industry of the province is ready for development after investment.
With the increasing demand for seafood, especially during Ramadan, and with official support for fish farming, the sector has the potential to have a lasting impact on the local economy and provide thousands of families a sustainable source of income.
