Representatives of the government such as Housing Minister Punjab MPA Mian Bilal Yaseen, representatives from Al-Khidmat Foundation and officials from NDMA and Ministry of External Affairs were present at the event. PHOTO: PTV
A special flight of 100 tons of tents and tarps has been sent to Palestinians in Gaza on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The shipment was organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in coordination with the Alkhidmat Foundation and flown from Lahore to El Arish International Airport for onward delivery, according to state television. Radio Pakistan on Monday.
A send off ceremony was held at Allama Iqbal International Airport attended by Housing Minister Punjab MPA Mian Bilal Yasin, officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and NDMA representatives.
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The NDMA says the flight is the country’s 28th aid shipment to Gaza, bringing the cumulative aid figure to 2,727 tonnes.
Pakistan began sending humanitarian flights via Egypt shortly 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 aid – 100 tonnes of medical supplies, tents and blankets – left Islamabad for Egypt on 19 October 2023 to be transferred to Gaza.
The route via El-Arish has also been used for handovers to relief networks: in January 2024, a Pakistani plane arrived at El-Arish with 20 tons of aid handed over 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 the fighting and addressing hostages and prisoners, although Israel has continuously violated and violated the ceasefire agreement and throttled aid on tightly controlled routes.
