Pak reply on tackling locust attack awaited

NEWDELHI: India on Thursday said it is still to hear from Pakistan on a proposal for a coordinated response along with Iran to control the problem of desert locusts, which have devastated vast areas in all three countries.

New Delhi is in the process of supplying 20,000 litres of the pesticide Malathion, made by Hindustan Insecticides Limited, to Tehran, for anti-desert locust operations, external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava told a virtual news briefing.

“In view of the alarming situation of the locust problem this year, we had suggested that [the channel of communication with Pakistan] be activated and coordinated control operations be undertaken,” he said.

“We are yet to receive a response from Pakistan.”

HT had first reported on May 21 that Pakistan had not responded to India’s proposal for coordinated operations along with Iran to tackle the problem.