Fear of locust attacks on bordering districts

Chief secretary orders timely action to combat the situation

LAHORE: Fearing locust attacks in the districts bordering Sindh and Balochistan, Punjab Chief Secretary (CS) Yousaf Naseem Khokhar directed provincial authorities to increase surveillance and ensure strict monitoring of the situation in southern Punjab, especially Bahawalpur.

He was presiding over a meeting held on Tuesday at the Civil Secretariat to review measures to cope with a possible attack in Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan.

The meeting was attended by a senior Board of Revenue member, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority director general and other officers. It was also decided to form a working group to be headed by the senior member of the Board of Revenue to suggest measures to combat locusts.

The CS asked departments to remain vigilant and purchase pesticides and equipment used for spraying on time.

He maintained that cooperation with local communities was important and they must be mobilised for scouting. He also ordered Agriculture Secretary Wasif Khursheed to actively coordinate with provincial and federal agencies.

Agriculture Secretary Wasif Khursheed said that in view of the threat, special teams have been deployed in southern Punjab to monitor the situation.

He added that Pest Warning and Quality Control of Pesticides Director General Zafaryab Haider has been deputed in Bahawalpur to supervise monitoring. “Around 300 spray machines have been arranged and distributed in the vulnerable districts to combat locusts.”

He maintained that the provincial government is in contact with Sindh and Balochistan to get timely information on locusts. He further said that the provincial government is coordinating with federal institutions.

The Ministry of National Food Security has assured that in case of any emergency, the Plant Protection Department will respond by providing special aircrafts and vehicles for spraying.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2019.