ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced to provide all necessary resources required for action against locust swarms in the country.
Chairing a high-level review meeting on eradication of locust, the prime minister said it is a national emergency and the federal government would take all efforts to control the locust.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, while participating in the meeting via video link, said that his government has spent Rs696.19 million to control the attacks but the threat was so serious that there is dire need to devise a National Action Plan to control the situation.
He said swarm locust which has settled in the deserts of Thar and Nara would start breeding from July to December this year and during the same period they would breed in Cholistan region of Punjab.
Regarding losses caused by locust swarm attacks, Sindh chief minister said that 168,701 acres of cropping area have been affected, while 997,260 acres of desert area has also been affected by locust.
CM Sindh urged the prime minister to hire aircraft from China or UAE for conducting aerial spray.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is importing drugs from China to control the spread of locust. In the first phase drugs weighing three hundred tons will arrive next week.
This was stated by Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing during a meeting with Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt. Genera, Muhammad Afzal.
The envoy said China will provide anti-locust spray and machinery to Pakistan in three phases. He said Chinese technicians will also train Pakistani workers in the use of spray machinery.
Chairman NDMA said China can help Pakistan control locusts and establishment of an emergency air ambulance service.
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