Locust Attack: India, Pakistan cooperating in fight against outbreak under FAO's forum

As desert locust attack continues to wreak havoc in India and Pakistan, two neighbouring countries are cooperating with each or to tackle outbreak, Pakistan Foreign Office said on Friday. Pakistan and India are members of Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Commission for Controlling Desert Locust in South-West Asia (SWAC).

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui informed that ministerial meeting of commission was held in March during which member states decided to reactivate communication on locust issue. A Technical and Operational Coordination (ToC) team was formed to exchange information, improve coordination at border areas and increase synchronization to combat desert locust attacks in region.

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Farooqui said that Pakistan h been participating in SWAC meeting on a weekly basis."We believe that respective technical teams have been coordinating appropriately through FAO," she ded.

“Pakistan remains committed to cooperating with all SWAC member states, including India, in combating desert locust outbreak," spokesperson said.

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India reaches out to Pakistan

Last month, India h said Pakistan has t yet responded to its suggestion for activation of a local channel to dress issue of desert locust attack.

"re is an existing local channel of communication with Pakistan. This is rmally activated in June every year. Seeing alarming situation, India suggested to activate channel but re is response from Pakistan yet," India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava h said.

New Delhi h proposed a coordinated response to tackle desert locust along border to Pakistan and also offered to facilitate supply of insecticide malathion to Islamab for same. 

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Desert locust attack

India and Pakistan are confronted with worst locust attack in recent years. desert locusts are kwn to devour everything in ir path, posing a great threat to food supply, farms and livelihoods of millions of people. Locust swarms that travelled from Pakistan entered India through Rajasthan and spre to states of Punjab, Haryana, and Mhya Presh causing major dam to cotton crops and vegetables. Rajasthan is most affected state in country with respect to locust attacks.

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