ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office on Wednesday called the Indian charge d’ affaires in Islamabad to convey its government’s decision to allow the administration in New Delhi to transport wheat and lifesaving medicines to Afghanistan via land route.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday approved a humanitarian assistance package for Afghanistan, including 50,000 metric tons of wheat, emergency medical supplies, winter shelters and other items, and ordered their immediate shipment to the neighboring state.

He also announced Pakistan’s decision to allow the transit of 50,000 metric tons of wheat which India offered to provide Afghanistan on humanitarian grounds.

“As a goodwill gesture towards the brotherly Afghan people, the Government of Pakistan has decided to allow the transportation of 50000 Metric Tons of wheat and lifesaving medicines from India to Afghanistan via Wagah Border on an exceptional basis for humanitarian purposes,” said the foreign office statement. “The decision of the Government of Pakistan to this effect was formally conveyed to the Charge d’ Affaires of India at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.”

It is said to be an exceptional development since Pakistan has denied India commercial transport link to Afghanistan for many years.

The Pakistani prime minister recently assured a ministerial delegation from Afghanistan to consider the transit of Indian wheat on humanitarian grounds.

The delegation, which was led by Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, took up the issue with the Pakistani authorities earlier this month.

The administration in Islamabad recently also endorsed in principle tariff and sales tax reduction on key Afghan exports to Pakistan.