Country under severe locusts' attack after 27 years: minister

Minister for Food Security and Research Khusro Bakhtiyar said Pakistan was under severe locust attack after 27 years which posses a substantial threat to food security in the country.

He made these remarks during his visit along with Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal on Sunday to the areas under locusts attack in Pupli Pahar region in Depalpure, Okara district, said a press release.

Briefing the media persons, he said the situation was under control in over 85 percent areas that were under locusts. The minister stated that the federal government had declared a state of emergency in view of the ongoing locusts attack in parts of the country.

Bakhtiyar said all institutions of the country including NDMA, Plants Protection Department, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air force and PDMAs and international agencies were working to cope up with this menace. He observed that if timely action was not initiated, locusts attack could become a threat to the food security in the country.

He informed the media persons that such attack came in the country after 27 years and more than 20 others countries were also facing this problem. He directed for the assessment of the losses and assured that the farmers would be accommodated.

Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal said a comprehensive strategy was already being devised to eliminate the locusts through chemical spray. He said Amy Aviation and Pakistan Air Force help would also be sought if needed. Deputy Commissioner Okara Usman Ali briefed the minister and chairman NDMA on the current situation after outbreak of locusts attack.

Director General United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Country Representative FAO, DG PDMA Punjab and others stakeholders were also present at the occasion. Meanwhile, The World Food Organization would provide technical and strategic support to Pakistan for eradicating the locust affecting a large area of this region.

Some 30 countries had already affected by the locust, and all important measures had been taken to avoid further loss of crops from locust also attacking some parts of Pakistan, stated Minister for National Food Security, Khusro Bakhtiar while talking to a private news channel programe.

Ground operation in Balochistan would be launched on February 17, to prevent crops from locust attack, he added. Khusro Bakhtiar further said that some 128 teams had been constituted to conduct operation for controlling locust affecting crops.