ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday dispatched a consignment of humanitarian aid comprising of daily use commodities to war-affected people of the Middle East. This aid shipment, sent by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with Pakistan Air Force, comprised approximately 17 tonnes of supplies, including blankets, food and medicines. The aid was dispatched via chartered aircraft 777 from Chaklala, Rawalpindi to Damascus, Syria. This is the 21st consignment of aid sent on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In total till now 1,756 tonnes of relief items have been dispatched to the affected people of Gaza (1,273 tonnes), Lebanon (372 tonnes) and Syria (111 tonnes). The send-off ceremony was held at Chaklala in Rawalpindi which was attended by MNA Ibrar Malik, senior officials from NDMA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistan Air Force. The chief guest emphasised the urgent need to provide relief to the war-affected population, considering the ongoing conflict and the needs of the affected communities. He reaffirmed the Pakistani government’s commitment to supporting the brothers and sisters in distress and stressed the importance of collaboration by welfare organisations and the Pakistani public in strengthening these efforts. The Pakistani government continues to send relief supplies based on the needs of the war-affected populations of Lebanon and Palestine. On instructions of the prime minister, a special account named the ‘Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for Gaza and Lebanon’, has been set up to collect donations from the public to aid their brothers and sisters in Gaza and Lebanon.