Pakistan sends planeload of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan
First of three scheduled special flights reaches Kabul with food and medical supplies
Islamabad: Tons of food and medical supplies donated by Pakistan reached Kabul on Thursday afternoon to address the impending humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
Pakistan Air Force C-130 aircraft landed in Afghanistan’s capital city carrying relief goods for the people of the country. This was the first of the three humanitarian aid flights scheduled. The next flight will deliver the relief goods to Kandahar on Friday and another to Khost on Saturday.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan handed over the food and medical supplies to the Afghan health officials at the Hamid Karzai International Airport.
“This is just the beginning of humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan from Pakistan with more aid to be announced in coming days” as Pakistan’s public and private sector and charity organizations are ready to offer full support to Afghan people, Ambassador Mansoor Khan told reporters at the airport, APP reported.
After the first immediate tranche of supplies through air, the food and medical assistance would continue through land routes via Torkham and Chaman border crossings.
Pakistan government “would continue to do its best to help Afghan brethren during the prevalent challenging environment,” an official statement said. Pakistan has also urged the international community to step up collective effort to avert possible humanitarian crisis in the landlocked country.
Pakistan has been leading humanitarian efforts and evacuation missions in Afghanistan. On August 30, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) cargo flight was the first international aid flight to reach Afghanistan amidst the chaotic situation that emerged after August 15 and the withdrawal of foreign forces. PIA flight delivered medical supplies of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.