Pakistan delivers 13 trucks with edibles to Afghanistan

KAABUL (Pajhwok): Pakistan sent 13 truckloads of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan through the border crossing at Torkham, authorities said on Sunday.

The latest tranche consisted of edibles including flour, sugar, cooking oil, pulses and rice.

Another four trucks would also be sent through the crossing soon, the state run news agencyAPP reported.

AbidUllah, Islamabad’s acting consul general in Jalalabad, received the assistance at Torkham. The goods will be dispatched for distribution among the needy in various provinces.

Last week, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said food could run out by the end of this month, and the World Food Programme said 14 million people were on the brink of starvation.

In addition to the latest consignment, Pakistan has donated three planeloads of assistance, starting September 9 when a Pakistan Air Force aircraft, carrying tons of food and medical supplies, landed in Kabul. The next two flights were diverted to Kandahar and Khost days later.

Pakistan is in the forefront of countries providing relief assistance to its war-ravaged neighbour to help it meet the challenges.

Starting Sunday, the government has started supplies through land routes. These supplies that also include items such as blankets and tents to help people meet the demands of coming winter season will be continued in the weeks to come.

Last week, international donors pledged more than $1.1 billion to help Afghanistan, fearing that the dried up foreign aid would raise the spectre of a mass exodus.

Guterres, speaking halfway through a UN conference seeking $606 million to meet Afghanistan’s most pressing needs, said it was too early to say how much had been promised in response to the appeal.

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