Shamsul-Amin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: The first cape of four vehicles loaded with 280-ton gifted wheat by Pakistan was handed over to Afghan authorities at Torkham border on Saturday.
The wheat-loaded trucks had started their journey from different areas of Punjab province a few days ago and reached the Torkham border. A colorful ceremony was held on the Pak-Afghan border which was attended by a large number of officials and citizens of both countries.
National Logistic Cell general manager Mazhar Iqbal led the Pakistani side while Ghulam Farooq of the Afghan agriculture ministry led Afghanistan’s delegation.
Talking to a reporter NLC official Mazhar Iqbal said that Pakistan Muslim League former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had promised the Afghan government that Pakistan would gift 40,000-ton wheat in one year. He said the total price of the wheat was 4 billion rupees. He added that in the first cap they gave 280 tons of wheat to Afghanistan. He said they would complete the wheat donation to Afghanistan in a few months.
Afghan official Ghulam Farooq thanked Pakistan and its citizens for helping Afghan people in crises. He said the Afghan government would distribute the wheat to deserving people in Afghanistan.
“We not only appreciate Pakistan for such humanitarian aid but it would also reduce the rift between the two countries”, said Farooq. He said that they also hope Pakistan to continue its goodwill gesture and cooperate with Afghanistan in its development.
