Islamabad: Pakistan is sending rice to drought-hit Sri Lanka and a first shipment out of 10,000 metric tonnes set aside for assistance was to depart on Thursday and reach Colombo on April 3, the ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.
“In line with the Prime Minister’s directive to provide all necessary assistance to the Government and people of Sri Lanka, in the wake of severe drought in that country, the procedure for dispatch of 10,000 metric tonnes rice to Sri Lanka through containerised shipments, has been initiated,” it said.
Earlier in February, Pakistan Air Force aircraft had transported 25 metric tonnes rice to Colombo as immediate short term assistance.
“The Government and people of Pakistan stand shoulder to shoulder with the brotherly people of Sri Lanka in this hour of need and will continue to provide all possible support to them,” the statement said.
