The National Locust Control Centre (NLCC) has said that anti-locust operations have been carried out in a 817,330 square kilometre area, over approximately two million acres, across 40 affected districts of the country to save crops from locust attacks.

According to details released by the NLCC on Tuesday, more than 939 teams took part in the anti-locusts operations in 40 districts of the country.

The teams of the Ministry of National Food Security, provincial departments of agriculture and the Pakistan Army are conducting a comprehensive survey and control operation against locusts in different districts of the country and so far 70.11 million acres have been surveyed.

In Punjab, 226,538 acres were surveyed during the last 24 hours and more than 2,220 people and 320 vehicles took part in this exercise. So far, under anti-locust drive, survey was completed over an area of 20.22 million acres and operation completed over 837,440 acres.

Meanwhile, in the Sindh Province, survey was done over 198,400 acres. Locust presence was confirmed in three districts and anti-locust operation was carried out on 1,178 acres. More than 25 vehicles and 385 people participated in this campaign.

In Sindh, the survey was completed on 10.83 million acres whereas the control operation was carried out over an area of 97,285 acres.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 185,823 acres were surveyed during last 24 hours and locust infestation was confirmed in eight districts: DI Khan, Tank, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Lakki Marwat, Karak, Karam, Orakzai and Khyber, whereas anti-locust operation was carried out over an area of 133,437 acres. The operation was carried out with the help of 925 people and 119 vehicles.

So far, 10.08 million acre area has been surveyed and 133,437 acre area has been cleared in the province.

In Balochistan, during the last 24 hours, 315,800 hectares were surveyed and infestation was confirmed in 11 districts -- Khuzdar, Awaran, Noshki, Chaghai, Gwadar, Othal, Kharran, Panjgur and Quetta. More than 1,318 people and more than 120 vehicles took part in the operation. So far, 20.63 million acre area has been surveyed and 951,217 acre area has been cleared in the province.

In addition to aerial spraying with the help of airplanes and helicopters, non-conventional methods are being used for effective control of locust during control operations.