Coordinated response required to cope with locust swarm: PM Imran  

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has emphasized that a coordinated national response is required to cope with the expected locust swarm so that crop production is not affected.

According to a press release, he was speaking at a briefing on the National Action Plan for Locust Control at National Locust Control Center in Islamabad today (Friday).

During the briefing, PM Imran Khan was informed that the National Action Plan for Locust Control Phase-I has been completed. 

The Prime Minister said that the federal, provincial governments and other organizations should coordinate to cope with the locust swarm across the country.

The premier also assured that the PTI-led federal government will undertake every possible effort for locust control since it involves the food security of the country. “Locust attack combined with COVID-19 is a huge challenge for Pakistan,” he added.

PM Imran accorded in-principle approval for Phase-II of the National Action Plan for Locust Control. The meeting also decided that the affected farmers would also be compensated through this package.

Earlier on June 21, the government announced Rs26 billion worth of funds to fight locust outbreak that threatens food security in Pakistan.

Minister for National Food Security Fakhar Imam said that the desert locust situation in Pakistan has found a new corridor. “They are ente­ring Pakistan from Afghanistan to Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan,” he added.