ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (NFSR) Syed Fakhar Imam on Friday warned that locust could migrate from Rajasthan (India) to Pakistan.

He stated this while chairing the meeting of the National Locusts Control Centre (NLCC) on Friday. NLCC coordinator Lt-Gen Moazzam Ejaz also co-chaired the meeting. Till now 15,518 sq km have been surveyed. Control operation is being done at Lasbella. Locust warrior teams will be provided with 500 protective suits. Further, three drones have been handed over to Balochistan for control operation. Imam said that a control operation was being carried out for the locust. There is a threat of locust heart from the Indian state of Rajasthan. Surveys are also being conducted in the affected areas. Institutions are working in a coordinated manner to eradicate the locust, he added. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) briefed about locust forecast. As per the forecast, the upsurge is easing in Southwest Asia but remains serious elsewhere. The desert locust situation continues to improve in Southwest Asia, and there are initial signs of improvement in parts of East Africa.

It still remains serious in Yemen and other areas of the 'Horn of Africa'.

In Southwest Asia, the situation continues to improve. Small infestations persist in the Lasbella Valley in Pakistan.

Regular and intensive surveys should be maintained along the Indo-Pakistan border to detect any signs of a small second generation of breeding.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department informed that a western disturbance was likely to enter upper parts of the country from Saturday (26th September, night), and likely to prevail till Wednesday (30th September). Balochistan mentioned that 99 percent of locust had been eliminated from Lasbella. Sindh reported, recently, no locust was found in the province.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020