Locust attack in Pakistan: 300 tons drugs will arrive in country from China

Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a high-level review meeting on eradication of locust was held in Islamabad today.

According to the details, The meeting reviewed steps taken to exterminate the pest.

Minister for National Food Security Khusro Bakhtyar, Advisor on Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Special Assistant Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan and other senior officialsIt attended the meetings.

All four chief ministers also participated in the meeting through video link.

Locust Emergency: China to lend its support to Pakistan

Earlier today, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing during a meeting in a meeting with  Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Lt. Genera, Muhammad Afzal said that drugs weighing three hundred tons will arrive in Pakistan from China next week to control the spread of locust in the country.

He said China will provide anti-locust spray and machinery to Pakistan in three phases.

Yao Jing said Chinese technicians will also train Pakistani workers in the use of spray machinery.

Locusts continue to devastate crops across Sindh

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman NDMA said China can help Pakistan control locust and establishment of an emergency air ambulance service.

Earlier in February, swarms of locusts invaded large swathes of adjoining areas of Chishtian, causing huge loss to the standing crops.

Different crops standing on hundreds of acre destroyed by the swarms of grasshoppers in several villages.

The farmers have blamed the Agriculture Department for not taking concrete steps to save their crops from the attack of locusts.

The farmers are trying to save their crops on their own.

The crop eating insects bring hunger with them by thoroughly eating crops and all vegetation they find at any place.

Last week, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan had said the Pakistan government has declared a national emergency to combat locust swarms.

In a tweet, she had said that the decision taken in a meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The meeting also approved the National Action Plan to combat locusts.

In addition, a high-level committee constituted for taking steps against the critters at the federal level.

She had further stated that the chairman of the committee would be Secretary National Food Security Division whereas Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) would be its focal person.