LAHORE, Jan 23: The Punjab Agriculture Department has created 135 posts in its Pest Control and Quality Control Wing. The Punjab government has formally approved the posts that include five deputy directors, four assistant directors, 34 agriculture officers, 58 field assistants and 34 baildars.

The department has also moved a summary for two posts of directors to be stationed at Lahore and Multan.

Announcing the posts, Punjab Agriculture Minister Arshad Lodhi said the new officials would help improve pest management and yield of major crops.

The department had been able to stem the flow of spurious drugs in the province and fresh manpower would help it have better control of agriculture produce, he added.

The five newly-appointed deputy directors would be posted at DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Sargodha, Gujranwala and Lahore, and the four assistant directors would monitor areas of Lodhran, Pakpattan, Mandi Bahauddin and Nankana Sahib, he said.