Pakistan has sent 15 tons of humanitarian assistance to war-torn Ukraine in two special C130 flights of Pakistan Air Force, as part of the country’s goodwill gesture towards the war-stricken people.
In a tweet, the Foreign Office spokesperson said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and National Disaster Management Authority Chairman Lieutenant General Akhtar Nawaz handed over the relief items to the Ukrainian Embassy at the Noor Khan Base, Chaklala in Rawalpindi on late Tuesday.
Foreign Secretary Faisal Mahmood and other senior officials of the foreign affairs ministry were also present. Ukrainian Ambassador to Pakistan Markian Chuchuk, who received the items on behalf of the embassy, thanked the Pakistani government for sending the emergency aid in such difficult times.
More than three million Ukrainians have so far left Ukraine, the United Nations said on Tuesday, as the people escaped the fighting and Russian bombardment. However, there are still many people in need and pictures of people living under subways and temporary areas have been reported in the international media.
According to the FO, the assistance included emergency medicines, electro-medical equipment, winter bedding, and food and basic items. The relief items were sent to Poland in response to a call by Ukraine for humanitarian assistance.
Talking to the reporter, FM Qureshi said the special flights would land in Warsaw, Poland, from where the relief items would be delivered to the Ukrainian people.
“The Ukrainian people are in difficulty and facing a difficulty,” he said, adding that Pakistan has always called for the resolution of matters. “We think war is not a solution to issues. We think issues should be resolved through dialogue.”
FM Qureshi said that he had a telephonic conversation with his Belarusian counterpart Vladimir Makei on Tuesday and discussed the prevailing situation in Ukraine. He inquired about the ongoing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine and expressed hope that it would be result-oriented, aimed at securing a ceasefire in Ukraine so that the lives could be saved.
“The [two] sides paid special attention to finding a solution to the humanitarian problems of the conflict,” according to a statement issued by the Belarusian foreign ministry. In addition, the interlocutors exchanged views on the topical issues of cooperation between Belarus and Pakistan, including more intensive bilateral contacts and further development of economic interaction.
The foreign minister added that Pakistan always had good relations with Ukraine and on the basis of such ties and the premier’s directives, the relief items were sent to the war-torn country. “I hope our small contribution proves to be fruitful for those people. Pakistan is praying for peace.”
