MONITORING (SW) – The Pakistan government has extended the time period for transportation of 50,000 metric tonnes (MTs) of Indian wheat and life-saving medicines as humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan through the Attari-Wagah border.
Pakistan had in November 2021 approved the transportation of 50,000 MTs of Indian wheat and life saving medicines as humanitarian assistance from India to Afghanistan through the Wagah border “on exceptional basis for humanitarian purposes”, reported the Times of India.
“…It has been decided to grant two months’ extension to facilitate completion of the transportation,” said Pakistan in its announcement.
Media in Pakistan had reported that it was difficult for Afghanistan to lift the entire wheat stock of 50,000 tonnes from India within the stipulated time frame of 30 days.
A fleet of 36 Afghan trucks received the second consignment of 2,000 tonnes of wheat from India and left for Afghanistan last month after being cleared by the customs, immigration and security officials here at the Wagah border.
The convoy had earlier entered Pakistan via Torkham border on Thursday night and reached the Indo-Pak border on Friday morning under the tight security of the respective police authorities.
New Delhi has committed 50,000 tonnes of wheat for Afghanistan on the humanitarian ground because of food shortages. Pakistan agreed to facilitate both Afghanistan and India through safe and duty-free transportation of the commodity. For this, the Indian government had agreed with an Afghanistan-based logistics company to send empty trucks via Torkham and Wagah.
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