The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has finalized arrangements to dispatch the 17th humanitarian aid consignment to Palestine, with a focus on the war-ravaged Gaza Strip. A special cargo flight carrying 100 tonnes of essential supplies will depart from Islamabad International Airport this evening.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, alongside NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, will attend the send-off ceremony, according to a press release issued on Tuesday.

The consignment, which includes food items, powdered milk, ready-to-eat meals, and critical medical supplies, will be flown to Amman, Jordan. From there, the aid will be delivered into Gaza through coordination with Jordanian and Egyptian authorities, who currently have the necessary agreements in place to facilitate humanitarian access.

“NDMA will send a total of 200 tonnes of aid to Palestine through special flights,” the statement added. Today’s consignment is the first half of that pledge.

Since October 2023, Pakistan has sent 1,715 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza across 17 separate shipments, in response to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding under Israel’s military blockade and airstrikes.

Despite its vocal support for Palestinians, Pakistan faces logistical limitations in delivering aid directly into Gaza, as such operations require Israeli approval. Unlike Egypt, Jordan, or the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan has no diplomatic ties or air coordination mechanisms with Tel Aviv. As a result, Jordan and Egypt will handle the final stage of the aid delivery via air drops or ground transport.

This latest dispatch reaffirms Pakistan’s continued stance in solidarity with the Palestinian people and reflects a growing effort by Islamabad to support humanitarian operations amid escalating conflict and a worsening health crisis in Gaza.