FAO office holds a High Level Ministerial Meeting on Desert Locust threat to South-West Asian - Press Note issued by Press Information Department.

Islamabad -- March 11, 2020 (PPI-OT)

Following is the text of press note issued by Press Information Department (PID)

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A High Level Ministerial Meeting on Desert Locust threat to South-West Asian countries was held today at FAO office in Islamabad through video conference. Ministers and senior officials from concerned departments of India, Iran, Afghanistan and FAO Headquarter representatives along with officers from Ministries of National Food Security and Foreign Affairs were present in the meeting. During the video conference, each country briefed the participants about the on-going operational activities being carried out in their respective areas against locust infestation. Speaking on the occasion, Khusro Bakhtyar proposed to constitute a High Level Technical Committee comprising senior officers from affected South-West Asian countries for effective management and control of locust.

He underlined that a coordinated effort at regional level is required to address this challenge. He informed the participants that Pakistan is politically committed and it has declared a national emergency to manage the locust threat. He apprised that 20 million hectares in Balochistan is locust prone adding that during stage one of the operation the locust threat will be assessed and then managed accordingly The Minister said that ground vehicles in the affected areas have been deployed, aerial spray is being conducted by 3 planes and 4 helicopters. He said that E-Locust devices are required for effective ground surveillance of the pest adding that Pakistan currently has 30 devices and asked FAO for provision of 100 more in this regard.

The minister called for timely sharing of information among regional countries and formulation of a...