China stood firmly behind Pakistan in fighting Covid, locust: Food Minister
Karachi: Federal Minister for National food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam has said that China had stood firmly behind Pakistan in its fight against Covid-19 and the locust attack.
Addressing an event here titled ‘FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)-China South-Asian Cooperation Programme – Global Action on the control of desert locust,’ the minister said Pakistan had countered both the challenges with determination and support of the friends, especially China.
“Pakistan in last 16 months confronted two major challenges of Covid-19 pandemic and locust attacks. During the crisis, China helped Pakistan with donating pesticides and other needed equipment,” he reminded, adding China again backed Pakistan’s anti-Covid efforts by gifting vaccines.
The minister said second phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had begun and agriculture was also among top priorities of the project.
Pakistan, he said, managed both the crisis excellently with close coordination of relevant national and international organizations.
Imam said the country faced the locust emergency after a gap of about 27 years during which number of districts of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab provinces were affected.
He said the government set up a National Locust Control Center (NLCC) which worked day and night. The officers concerned worked with commitment and dedication for which they deserve appreciation. “We were able to manage the situation with the support from armed forces and other relevant organizations,” he added.
He lauded Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar and his team at the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) for effectively managing coronavirus crisis.
Speaking on the occasion, FAO representative Rebekah Bell said Pakistan had managed both challenges of pandemic and locusts attacks successfully.
She said locust attack was the global issue. The FAO helped Pakistan to overcome locust issue by providing needed equipment and capacity building of relevant human resource, she added.
The UN’s FAO also handed 10 single cabin vehicles mounted with spraying machines to the Department of Plant Protection Karachi on the occasion.
