Desert locust situation in Pakistan has found a new corridor — they are entering Pakistan from Afghanistan via DI Khan and Waziristan.
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Syed Fakhar Imam while chairing 5th meeting of NLCC on Saturday said the federal government will spend Rs 14 billion and provincial governments will contribute Rs 12 billion to counter the locust.
He was of the point of view that locusts attack has been minimized by combined efforts in majority areas. The teams on the ground were sent out at night to spray and destroy locust when it rested, he told.
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He said the federal and provincial governments, district administration and farmers were coordinating to tackle the locust attacks.
National Locust Control Center along with National Disaster Management Authority and district administrations were making effort to control the locust. About 8,000 army troops were deployed for the anti-locust operation.
China extended financial help of USD4.9 million to Pakistan by giving it 53,000 liters of spray, sprayers and drones, he disclosed.
He was of the view that 20 aircraft will be used for the anti-locust operation. He also mentioned that ADB and World Bank will finance anti locusts’ operation in the form of USD 200 and USD 150 respectively.
