Representatives of the government such as Minister of Housing Punjab MPA Mian Bilal Yaseen, representatives from Al-Khidmat Foundation and officers from NDMA and the Foreign Ministry were present at the event. PHOTO: PTV
A special flight carrying 100 tonnes of tents and tarpaulins has been dispatched for Palestinians in Gaza on the directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The shipment was organised by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in coordination with Alkhidmat Foundation and flown from Lahore to El Arish International Airport for onward delivery, according to state broadcaster Radio Pakistan on Monday.
A send-off ceremony was held at Allama Iqbal International Airport, attended by Minister of Housing Punjab MPA Mian Bilal Yasin, officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and NDMA representatives.
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NDMA says that the flight is the country’s 28th relief consignment for Gaza, and the cumulative aid figure comes to 2,727 tonnes.
Pakistan began sending humanitarian flights via Egypt soon after the conflict began in October 2023, when Hamas launched attacks on Israel on October 7, triggering Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The first batch of humanitarian assistance—100 tonnes of medical supplies, tents and blankets—left Islamabad for Egypt on October 19, 2023, for transfer onward to Gaza.
The route via El-Arish has also been used for handovers to relief networks: in January 2024, a Pakistani aircraft arrived at El-Arish carrying 20 tonnes, with the aid handed to the Egyptian Red Crescent Society for onward delivery to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Gaza.
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A ceasefire agreement was signed in October 2025, aimed at halting fighting and addressing hostages and prisoners, though Israel has continuously violated and broken the ceasefire agreement, and throttled aid at tightly controlled routes.
