Locust-hit Pak may make exception to trade freeze with India to import insecticides: Report

Reeling under a major locust attack, Pakistan may allow a one-time exemption to import insecticides from India despite tre ban which was imposed after New Delhi revoked special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August last, according to a media report on Monday.

Importing insecticides from India will be discussed during Pakistan federal Cabinet's meeting on Tuesday, Dawn News reported. Pakistan is facing its worst locust attack in deces, after insects destroyed crops on a large scale in Punjab province, country's main region for agricultural production.

In a meeting earlier in month, Prime Minister Imran Khan declared locust attack a national emergency. meeting, which was attended by federal ministers and senior officials of four provinces, also approved a National Action Plan that requires a sum of Rs 7.3 billion to overcome crisis.

Or topics to be discussed by Cabinet on Tuesday include gas pricing and power bill mandates for getting International Monetary Fund's next tranche of funds of USD 450 million, report said.

Pakistan government considering import of insecticides from India comes seven months after Islamab on August 9 decided to suspend all tre ties with India following New Delhi's decision to abrogate Article 370 on August 5, revoking special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan also expelled Indian High Commission in Islamab.