Pakistan will support Afghan people in every possible way to avert humanitarian crisis: PM Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD, Dec 15 (SABAH): Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that Pakistan will support Afghan people in every possible way to avert humanitarian crisis. He said that disengaging with Afghanistan would be disadvantageous for the world.

Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired the second Apex Committee meeting on Afghanistan on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Fayaz Ahmed Tarin, Advisor to PM on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, National Security Adviser Dr. Moeed WasiM Yusuf, DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar and senior civil and military officers.

The Apex Committee was briefed that as per directions of the Prime Minister the facility of free COVID vaccination for all Afghans entering Pakistan from land borders is being continued. The process of obtaining Pakistani visa has been simplified for Afghans.

Participants of the Apex Committee again expressed concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and emphasized that Pakistan will not abandon Afghans in their time of need.

It was informed that on Sunday, Pakistan is hosting an extraordinary session of OIC Foreign Ministers in Islamabad to highlight the plight of vulnerable Afghan people in these testing times and to discuss ways for helping them.

Prime Minister Imran Khan highlighted that Pakistan has already committed to immediate relief of in-kind humanitarian assistance worth Rs. 5 billion, which comprises of food commodities including 50,000 MT of wheat, emergency medical supplies, winter shelters and other supplies.