An official of the said department told Business Recorder on telephone from Karachi that the government was fully alive to the situation and taking 'some serious' precautionary measures on 'war footing' to avert possible loss in case of attack.
In December last, FAO, a subsidiary of the United Nations (UN) dealing with agriculture matters, warned that locust could attack crops including the major food grain in March and April this year.
Afterwards, the recent rains across the country and snowfall on mountains, which resulted in lowering of the temperature, had further intensified the threat of attack, the official said.
Last time the locust, a tiny insect capable to wash crops on hundreds of acres in a flash, hit the country with devastated affects in 1993 and such repetition could put the government efforts to revive agri sector at stake.
The official said that the department, responsible to protect plants and crops from such natural calamities, had already initiated its 'extraordinary' operations in Balochistan.
While especially farmed teams of the department would be there soon in other provinces including Punjab and Sindh, from where most of country's wheat need was fulfilled, he said.
"We have started monitoring of plants and crops on daily basis in some districts of Balochistan including Quetta, Gwadar, Turbat and Khuzdar and such activities will be initiated in Punjab and Sindh soon," the official said.
He said that under the plan anti-locust workers would be provided vehicles and other equipment to carry out survey of plants and crops in remote areas.
They had been asked to report to the department's head office in Karachi daily and in case the hint of the presence of insect was found anywhere, the prompt action would be taken, the official added.
He said that aerial spray of insecticides recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) would be the only 'viable' option in case of attack.
Asked whether the government had sought technical or financial assistance from FAO to coup with the situation, the official said the UN subsidiary was approached, but it left the decision on the availability of donors.