China has extended a helping hand to Pakistan, sending aid to flood-affected areas. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of Pakistan, the first consignment of relief supplies from the Chinese government arrived on Sunday. Two Chinese relief planes landed in Rawalpindi, a city in eastern Pakistan, carrying 300 tents and 9,000 blankets. The NDMA stated that this demonstrates China’s unwavering solidarity with Pakistan during a difficult time. The Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan and SAFRON, Amir Muqam, expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese government and people, stating that the aid would provide much-needed relief to thousands of flood-affected families. Beijing had announced on Friday that it would provide $14 million (approximately ₹117.6 crore) in relief material to Pakistan following the devastating monsoon rains and floods. According to United Nations Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, the UN also released $5 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support Pakistan’s flood relief efforts this month. Minister Amir Muqam noted that the floods in Pakistan, caused by heavy rainfall since June, have resulted in hundreds of deaths and widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, and crops. The relief material from China will play a crucial role in rescue operations. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, said that China’s assistance shows that we all share a common future and should support each other in times of hardship. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed officials on Saturday to prepare a report on the damage caused by the recent monsoon floods within a week. Since the beginning of June, the monsoon season has claimed the lives of over 1,000 people in Pakistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) experienced the highest number of deaths, with over 500 fatalities, while floods caused by heavy rainfall in Punjab at the end of August claimed over 300 lives. More than 4,700 villages in Punjab were submerged, affecting 4.7 million people. The province conducted its largest rescue operation to date, rescuing 2.6 million people and 2.1 million animals. Shehbaz Sharif said that the assessment of the damage to crops and infrastructure should be completed soon so that proper planning can be done for relief and rehabilitation. He instructed the officials to present a complete report within a week. Pakistan and China have been close friends since the establishment of diplomatic relations in May 1951. The two countries share strong relations and have supported each other on international platforms for decades. China is Pakistan’s largest arms supplier and its largest trading partner. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is the largest economic project between the two countries. It includes roads, railways, energy projects, and the Gwadar Port. China always helps Pakistan in natural disasters (such as floods and earthquakes).
