Karachi: Around 18 aircraft acquired by Plant Protection Department for eliminating locusts have been grounded due to lack of maintenance.  According to sources, planes acquired by federal government for spraying pesticide for eliminating locusts have been grounded since 2021 due to maintenance issues.

Of 18 planes, 10 have been grounded in Karachi while eight are in Lahore, they said. According to sources within plant and protection department, spraying planes were grounded due to lack of maintenance for past two years. In 2019, widespread heavy rainfall during March and April in Balochistan created ideal ecological conditions for rapid increase in number of locusts. In anticipation of outbreak, Punjab government had directed officials to thwart possible attack by conducting large-scale aerial and land spraying of pesticides.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 27 2023

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.