Check posts set up for early warning on locust

Authorities decide to form committees at village level

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Industries Mian Aslam Iqbal has said 13 check-posts have been set up at the provincial borders where army and local administration personnel are present to provide timely information about locusts under the early warning system.

He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting along with Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Senior Member Board of Revenue Babar Hayat Tarar, Commissioner Lahore Division Saif Anjum, and other officers concerned, whereas divisional commissioners, regional police officers and deputy commissioners participated through video link.

The minister said measures were being taken to protect crops from locusts in the province and the field officers and their teams would have to perform their duties diligently.

The chief secretary directed the administrative officers to submit reports on locust situation in districts within two days so that relief could be provided in the affected areas on the basis of data.

The meeting finalised the mechanism for obtaining advance information about the locusts and decided to set up committees at the village level.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2020.