Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar informed media that Chinese ambassador stressed that China would think about supplying pesticides and spraying equipment to Pakistan to combat locust emergency.
Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing said China is concerned in increasing import of agricultural products from Pakistan including onion, potato and meat.
He also told that that China would send a delegation including technical experts to Pakistan in a next week for further deliberate on aerial management of locusts. The delegation will visit the locust affected areas in Pakistan.
The minister greeted the Chinese interest in the import of agricultural products.
He apprised the ambassador related to locust emergency particularly in Sindh and Balochistan through pesticides and aerial support to control locust.
The minister briefed the present situation in affected areas and how locusts were spreading rapidly.
He also highlighted the importance of measures taken by neighboring countries to control locusts as the insects kept on moving to other areas.
Minister underlined the need for Chinese support for aerial spray to limit the population of locusts in vulnerable areas.
He also emphasized the urgent need for aerial spray to control locusts in desert areas.
The minister acknowledged the support of China to tackle the locust issue and said it depicted the strength of Pakistan-China relationship.
The meeting was also attended by National Disaster Management Authority Chairman Muhammad Afzal, National Food Security and Research Secretary Dr Hashim Popalzai, Food Security Commissioner Dr Syed Waseemul Hassan and Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr Khurshid Ahmed.