KHAIRPUR, April 5: Banana growers of Kingri, Gambat, and Khairpur talukas are likely to sustain losses as a virus has attacked the crop.

According to a survey conducted by this correspondent, banana crop standing over 500,000 acres in the three talukas of the district has come under the virus attack. Daro, Beli Chani, Unnar Dand, Bhatyoon Sadarji, Keti Ghumro, Kalhoro and Baharo are the worst affected areas.

The Khairpur district is the main supplier of banana to Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Islamabad and other areas.

The government has taken no measures to eradicate the virus. However, in some areas growers have called experts from Karachi, Lahore and some other areas.

Experts who visited the Gambat taluka in March told this correspondent the virus attack was in its initial stage in the taluka and if immediate measures were not taken it might expand.