Pakistan begins dispatching 50,000 metric tons of wheat to Afghanistan

Islamabad has begun dispatching 50,000 metric tons of wheat to Afghanistan as humanitarian assistance, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kabul Mansoor Ahmad Khan said in a tweet.

Khan said that Shehzad Arbab, Special Assistant to PM Imran Khan, had handed over the first consignment, which consisted 1,800 metric tons of wheat, to Afghan officials at the Torkham border crossing between the two countries on Thursday.

Speaking to the reporters, Shehzad Arbab stated that Pakistan will continue “sending two consignments [to Afghanistan] per week in consultation them [Afghan officials], where ever they want we will deliver the consignments that include wheat and life-saving medicines.”

Pakistan embassy in Kabul, meanwhile, said in a statement stated that the consignment was part of a relief assistance package – 50,000 metric tons of wheat – worth “Rs5 billion” for Afghanistan which was announced by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

According to the statement, the total amount of wheat will be dispatched to many provinces of Afghanistan, including Kabul, Nangarhar, Panjshir, Balkh, Badakhshan, Bamyan, Daikundi, Kandahar, Helmand, Farah, Herat, Khost, and Paktika provinces in the next few weeks.