ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army, Agriculture Department and Food Security are fulfilling their responsibilities in an efficient manner. More than 1,100 teams completed a survey of 2.4 million hectares.

116 hectares in 2 districts of Punjab, Mianwali and DG Khan while 7 districts of Sindh, Nowshero Feroze, Jamshoro, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Kashmore, Khairpur and Shikarpur also underwent anti-locust operation.

A joint operation was conducted in 9 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, DI Khan, Tank, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Lakki Marwat, Karak, Karam, Orakzai and Khyber.

The Pakistan Army, Agriculture Department and Food Security also worked in 33 districts of Balochistan. Khuzdar, Awaran, Noshki, Chaghi, Gwadar, Lasbela, Ketch, Panjgur, Kharan, Washik, Quetta, Barkhan, Dera Bugti, Daki, Harnai, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Bolan, Kalat and other districts in an area of ??3,827 hectares the locust attack was operated on.

During the control operation, locusts are being sprayed with the help of airplanes and helicopters for effective control .

Under the circumstances, a young man hailing from Sindh has come up with an inexpensive and more effective solution for the complete elimination of locusts through the use of agricultural drones. Dr Shahzad Nahiyoon belongs to Tando Jam, Sindh. He has recently returned from China after completing a doctorate in Pesticides Sciences with a special focus on pesticides toxicology and application technology.

He is the first Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or agricultural drone pilot in Pakistan as well as the only PhD scholar in the country possessing expertise in the field.

The UAVs have efficiency up to six to 10 hectares per hour. They come with a five to 20 litres liquid tank and a two to 20 meters spraying swath under different field chemical control application conditions. Due to their great value and potential, UAVs have been the subject of much research in the field of spray application.