Emirates opens air bridge to flood-hit Pakistan, offers free cargo capacity for relief aid
Food and other emergency relief goods to be flown directly to five airports in Pakistan
Dubai: Emirates SkyCargo has set up an air bridge between Dubai and Pakistan to offer cargo capacity free of charge on flights to transport relief aid to people grappling with the damage caused by the devastating floods.
From Friday, cargo capacity on all Emirates’ passenger flights to Pakistan will be available to organisations based at the world’s largest humanitarian hub, International Humanitarian City (IHC), to transport critical equipment and supplies, food and other emergency relief goods directly to the five airports – Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, and Sialkot.
Any of the humanitarian organisations at IHC wishing to utilise the free cargo capacity to transport humanitarian relief from Dubai to Pakistan may contact Emirates SkyCargo’s centralized crisis relief desk on emiratescrisisrelief@emirates.com and emergencyresponse@ihc.ae.
‘Deeply committed to Pakistan’
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Group Chairman and Chief Executive said: “Emirates is deeply connected and committed to Pakistan. From our very first flight in 1985 to Karachi until today, we’ve steadily grown the mutually beneficial air links that facilitate business, tourism and trade between the UAE and Pakistan. President His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, have directed urgent aid to Pakistan, mobilising people and businesses across the UAE, and Emirates is ready to play our part.”
Emirates operates 53 scheduled passenger flights per week to Pakistan, where recent heavy rainfall has caused catastrophic flash flooding across the country, tragically leaving over 1,200 people dead and millions homeless.
Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Chairman of the Supreme Committee for the Supervision of IHC, said: “Times of crisis are a true test of spirit and once again, we are working with Emirates to respond to a devastating humanitarian crisis, this time in Pakistan, where floods have caused unimaginable losses and damages. We are grateful for the long-standing support of Emirates to the IHC community and its honourable commitment to alleviate the suffering of the victims of these extraordinary floods. Together, we are proud to deliver this vital support to the people of Pakistan.”