WFP inspects transfer of Indian wheat aid to Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): A World Food Program (WFP) delegation has visited the Amritsar city of India’s Punjab state to see the process of procurement, testing and transportation of wheat aid to Afghanistan.

Loss Prevention Officer at WFP Dr Stephanie Heard said the team was in India’s border city to familiarise itself with the process of wheat procurement.

As part of humanitarian assistance, India has transported 10,000 MTs of wheat to the war-torn country.

“We are here to see the initiative that the government of India has taken for the people of Afghanistan,” noted Sandro Banao, WFP commodity specialist was quoted as saying by ANI.

Referring to the rising demand for wheat globally, Banao also evinced an interest in increased WFP-India cooperation.

Delivery of the next batch of 10,000 MTs of wheat to Afghanistan was in the pipeline, a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan was quoted as saying. India’s development partnership with Afghanistan covered critical areas such as power, water supply, road connectivity, health care, education, agriculture and capacity building.

PAN Monitor/mud

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