Two killed as aircraft crashes in Cholistan

Aircraft was spraying pesticide to eliminate locust in the area

ISLAMABAD: At least two people were killed when an aircraft spraying pesticide to eliminate locusts crashed in Cholistan’s Tehsil Sadiqabad on Sunday.

The deceased were identified as Captain Muhammad Shoaib Malik (pilot) and engineer Fawad Khalid Butt - employees of the Federal Plant Protection Department of Ministry of National Food Security & Research (MNFSR).

Initial reports suggest the crash occured due to a technicle fault.

Termind the incident 'unfortunate', Federal Minister of MNFSR Khusro Bakhtiar expressed grief and sorrow.

“We are proud of the dutiful sons who lost their lives in the line of duty,” Bakhtiar said while praying for the bereaved family members. “They were highly capable professionals,” Bakhtiar added as he prayed for their souls.



The ministry expects locust attacks in the next two to three years may wreak havoc in Sindh, Balochistan and South Punjab.

In December 2019, Federal Food Secretary Muhammad Hashim Popalzai presented the National Action Plan Desert Locust Surveillance and Control 2020 and recommended the federal cabinet impose an emergency.

Under the proposed plan, 100,000 litres of the ultra-low volume (ULV) pesticides would be sprayed via airplanes in Balochistan from January to June 2020. 30 similar camps would be established in Sindh from July 2020 to December 2020 and 180,000 litres of ULV pesticides would be sprayed in Sindh via airplanes while 20 such camps would be established in Punjab as well.