Global support to fight locust plague

NDMA says situation may worsen in the coming weeks

Pakistan is in close contact with several countries in Africa and Middle East, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, to fight the worst locust plague in decades.

Pakistan’s National Locust Control Centre (NLCC) briefed the diplomatic community on Thursday, emphasising that strong regional and international cooperation is vital to address the food security threat to Pakistan and other regional countries due to the locust attack. Syed Fakhar Imam, Minister for National Food Security and Research, thanked the governments of China, the United Kingdom (UK) and Japan and contribution of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for facilitating Pakistan in controlling the locust threat.

Pakistan is also extending support to India, Afghanistan and Iran (SWAC members) under FAO’s Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in South-West Asia (SWAC) by sharing information and data on a weekly basis.

Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt Gen Mohammad Afzal has warned that the locust situation may worsen in the coming weeks. “Next eight weeks between July 15 and September 15 would be critical because of monsoon.”

Ministry of Food Secretary Omar Hamid Khan fears the swarms coming from the Horn of Africa could be much devastating than last year. Pakistan could be under attack as major swarms from the Middle East and Africa are likely to reach here besides the expected threat of invasion from Iran, Afghanistan and India.