Pakistan is struggling to combat a lethal threat of swarms of locusts. They have created panic in the country and will further spread in the coming days. The government is adopting various means to control the spread of locusts. The first generation of locusts, which is already in Pakistan, will join the upcoming second generation of locusts soon and they might destroy the Rabi and Kharif crops if immediate steps are not taken. The nature of these swarms is that they devour everything on their path. They travel with the wind. Pakistan and Iran are more prone to swarms. Moreover, according to recent statistics cotton and wheat production have been on a decline in this fiscal year. The pest damage could cut the economic growth this year.
China has already sent 300 tons of pesticides and is providing anti-locust spray and drones. PM Khan must take some serious and immediate effort to combat this crisis. He can learn from China on how they have started an environment-friendly strategy. The government needs to take some rapid action in order to combat the locust swarms.
Shamin Humayun
Mirpurkhas