ISLAMABAD: China dispatched a fresh consignment of relief goods to Pakistan on Saturday to support families affected by this year’s monsoon floods, which displaced thousands of people, especially in the eastern Punjab province, said an official statement.
The latest assistance from Beijing comes at a time when Pakistan is struggling to recover from weeks of torrential rains and riverine floods that inundated large parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, damaging homes, infrastructure and farmland.
“A special relief aircraft weighing 90 tons arrived today at Islamabad International Airport, carrying 700 tents, 16,000 blankets, 1,000 life jackets, and 4,000 sleeping bags to support communities impacted by recent floods,” said the National Disaster Management Authority.
“China has once again demonstrated its solidarity with Pakistan” it added.
The new consignment follows two earlier relief flights sent by the Chinese authorities on Sept. 28 that carried 300 tents and 9,000 blankets, reflecting what the statement described as Beijing’s “continued support in times of crisis.”
The NDMA said the distribution of supplies is being coordinated with provincial and local authorities to ensure delivery to the affected population.
The monsoon season this year has killed at least 1,037 people and affected millions across Pakistan, according to official estimates, reviving memories of the 2022 floods that submerged a third of the country.
The monsoon provides up to 80 percent of the country’s annual rainfall but also causes regular devastation.
