Anti-locusts op launched in 15 K-P districts
Ajmal Wazir says efforts being made to address flour, fuel shortages
PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
PESHAWAR:
With crops in around 15 districts of the province ravaged by swarms of desert locusts, the provincial government on Tuesday said that they have launched an operation against the pests.
Speaking at his daily media briefing on Tuesday, Adviser to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir said that at least 80 teams are working against locusts in 15 districts of the province. Teams from the K-P Agriculture Department, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), army and the district administration are participating in the operation, he said.
He added that until June 7, they had sprayed insecticides on 46,441 acres of land in the province while a survey of 381,2418 acres of land had been completed.
The provincial adviser added that anti-locust operations are currently underway in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Karak, Hangu, Bannu, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Orakzai, Kurram, South and North Waziristan, Khyber, Bajaur, Peshawar and Nowshera districts.
The PDMA, he said, was in close liaison with the relevant administration and the situation is being monitored continuously.
Wazir said that people can report about the presence of locusts in their area by calling the PDMA's helpline: 1700 or the Agriculture Department’s mobile number: 03481117070.
Regarding the arrival of overseas Pakistanis at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar, Wazir said that so far, some 5,670 passengers have arrived aboard 29 flights from April 15 to June 2.
Moreover, as many as 40 bodies have been brought back and handed over to their families for burial in their native areas.
Referring to an ongoing flour and fuel crisis in the province, the adviser said that the issue of flour supply had been raised by K-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan with Prime Minister Imran Khan and that obstacles in the supply chain have been removed.
On artificial inflation, he said that the district administration and other concerned departments are taking action against those responsible.
He further said that K-P Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz is in contact with the federal petroleum secretary to eradicate the shortage of fuel.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2020.
With crops in around 15 districts of the province ravaged by swarms of desert locusts, the provincial government on Tuesday said that they have launched an operation against the pests.
Speaking at his daily media briefing on Tuesday, Adviser to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir said that at least 80 teams are working against locusts in 15 districts of the province. Teams from the K-P Agriculture Department, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), army and the district administration are participating in the operation, he said.
He added that until June 7, they had sprayed insecticides on 46,441 acres of land in the province while a survey of 381,2418 acres of land had been completed.
The provincial adviser added that anti-locust operations are currently underway in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Karak, Hangu, Bannu, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Orakzai, Kurram, South and North Waziristan, Khyber, Bajaur, Peshawar and Nowshera districts.
The PDMA, he said, was in close liaison with the relevant administration and the situation is being monitored continuously.
Wazir said that people can report about the presence of locusts in their area by calling the PDMA's helpline: 1700 or the Agriculture Department’s mobile number: 03481117070.
Regarding the arrival of overseas Pakistanis at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar, Wazir said that so far, some 5,670 passengers have arrived aboard 29 flights from April 15 to June 2.
Moreover, as many as 40 bodies have been brought back and handed over to their families for burial in their native areas.
Referring to an ongoing flour and fuel crisis in the province, the adviser said that the issue of flour supply had been raised by K-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan with Prime Minister Imran Khan and that obstacles in the supply chain have been removed.
On artificial inflation, he said that the district administration and other concerned departments are taking action against those responsible.
He further said that K-P Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz is in contact with the federal petroleum secretary to eradicate the shortage of fuel.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2020.