KARACHI: Only three out of 20 aircraft owned by the plant protection department are operational, a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Food Security and Research was informed on Wednesday.

The committee, chaired by Malik Shakir Bashir Awan, showed concern over the fact that the remaining 17 aircraft, which were used for conducting aerial spray to control locust attacks on crops, were not operational due to shortage of funds.

The standing committee highlighted the need for the provision of adequate funds to the plant protection department for research and field work. It recommended to the government that required fund be provided to the department for upgrading and maintenance of the aircraft.—APP