Pakistan delivers first consignment of wheat aid to Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): As part of its humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan, Pakistan on Thursday dispatched the first consignment of 1,800 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan via the Torkham crossing.

"The consignment is part of the humanitarian package of Rs5 billion for in-kind assistance for Afghanistan announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan. The package includes 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat, winter shelters and emergency medical supplies," according to a statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry.

The first consignment was handed over by Shehzad Arbab, the special assistant to the prime minister, to the Afghan side, the statement added.

"Pakistan believes that the current humanitarian and economic situation in Afghanistan requires immediate attention of the international community. It is critical that the world community upscale its efforts to reach out to the Afghan people on an urgent basis to help address the humanitarian crisis and stabilise the economic situation," Foreign office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said.