Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Saturday taken notice of infestation of locust swarms on the crops in the areas of Bahawalpur and Muzzafargarh and issued instructions to the agriculture department, administration and other concerned departments to control the situation.

He directed them to take all necessary measures at the earliest to cope with the situation besides utilizing all-out resources to protect the farmers from damage. "Pesticide should immediately be sprayed for the eradication of locust swarms. The agriculture department and administration should leave no stone unturned for the complete elimination of locust swarms. Aerial spray should especially be focused to control the infestation of locust swarms and surveillance should be conducted on a daily basis," he added.

He further directed them to remain alert and a control room should be established for monitoring of the situation. Meanwhile, the CM took a notice of deaths of newborns in DHQ Hospital Jhang during the last seven days and sought a report from the Punjab Health Minister and Secretary of Primary and Secondary Health. He directed the concern officials to constitute a high-level committee to probe into the matter and a report should be submitted after conclusion of the investigation. A legal action will be initiated against the responsible, he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019