Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam announced on Friday that Pakistan has successfully averted the worst-ever swarms of locusts.

According to official figures, the locust swarms have affected around 40 million acres of land in the country during the last 13 months.

In a presser today, the minister expressed his satisfaction and said that the provincial governments, the institutions along with help of villagers helped stood up to the challenge.

It is true that Pakistan has the capability to meet any formidable challenge, he said.

Chief Coordinator of National Locust Control Center (NLCC) Lieutenant General Moazzam Ejaz also expressed satisfaction and said that Army Aviation, along with the provincial governments and National Disaster Management Authority worked day and night in this fight to eliminate the insects.

In its report, NLCC said that anti-locust operations have been completed in 1,131,865 hectares across the affected districts and eliminated the pest completely from Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

However, the center said it will continue surveying affected areas for leftover swarms to avoid any future threats.