National Locust Control Center established to curb locusts

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – National Locust Control Center (NLCC) has been established to tackle the locusts in Islamabad on Wednesday. Addressing a media briefing, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal said NDMA has completed the survey of 125,000 hectare areas of Balochistan, 87,000 hectares area of Punjab, 65,000 of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 83,000 hectare area of Sindh in last 24 hours. “We have five helicopters for which kits have been procured from the US. He said one plane will leave for Multan today to spray the affected areas,” the NDMA chairman said. He also said a committee has been setup to purchase six planes that will be used for spraying purposes on permanent basis. Minister for Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam has said coordinated steps are being taken at federal and provincial levels to eradicate the locusts. He said locust attack is an international threat and government is taking all out steps to eradicate it in coordination with all stakeholders. He said locust can be eliminated at deserts and at croplands in different ways. He appreciated the role of provincial governments as well as district administration and NDMA in stemming the tide of this pest.