Islamabad: The first cargo flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) delivered essential medicine and other supplies to Afghanistan on Monday as the country’s stocks dwindle. This was the first international humanitarian aid flight to reach Afghanistan since the chaotic situation that emerged after August 15 and the withdrawal of foreign forces.
The national flag carrier delivered medical supplies of the World Health Organization (WHO) as part of the country’s efforts to establish a “humanitarian air bridge” between Islamabad and Kabul with the help of aid agencies.
To facilitate international efforts, the PK-234 (Boeing 777) flight flew from Islamabad to Mazar-i-Sharif via Dubai (UAE) after coordinating with international agencies, Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmed Khan said on Monday.
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has granted conditional permission to international aid agencies for air operations after appeals made by foreign aid agencies that warned that medical supplies will run out within days in Afghanistan.
“PIA is providing air transport for the operation and the WHO will be arranging logistics on the ground” in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif near the Uzbekistan border.
