F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: The Afghanistan Inter-Ministerial Coordination Cell (AICC) was established in November 2021 as policy formulation and implementation forum for various activities related to providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced a Rs. 5 billion ($28 million) assistance package that includes food items, lifesaving drugs, winter supplies and shelter besides assistance in the fields of health, education and trainings. This special cell is headed by National Security Advisor, Dr. Moeed Yusuf. The members of this group come from ministries ranging from the Interior, Foreign affairs, Finance, Commerce, representatives of Customs, National Logistics Cell (NLC), Civil Aviation, State Bank, and Frontier Corps to ensure smooth flow of people and trade across the borders.
Various Initiatives under AICC:
a). Visa facilitation for INGOs and foreign investors for relief work in Afghanistan
The Ministry of Interior has introduced an elaborate mechanism to facilitate relief activities of international non-government organizations (INGOs) in Afghanistan. The main objective of new measures is to facilitate the humanitarian assistance efforts in war-torn Afghanistan and both new INGOs as well as those already registered will benefit from it. An INGO applying for registration would be required to submit a credentials verification letter from the concerned embassy, proof of registration in the country of origin, and source of funding along with local residence address and details of its designated staff. The Scrutiny Committee will complete the process within three weeks. Similarly, the process of issuance of visas has been made less cumbersome and time-consuming. Time duration for processing visa requests has been reduced to 10 days and entry visas for INGO or International organizations staff wanting to work for humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan will be issued without security clearance.
b). Supply of Wheat
The first consignment of 1800 metric tons of wheat as humanitarian assistance has been delivered. The consignment is part of the humanitarian package of Rs. 5 billion for in-kind assistance for Afghanistan announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan. The package includes 50,000 metric tons of wheat, winter shelters and emergency medical supplies.
c). Team of Engineers/ Technicians for refurbishment of hospitals
The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has dispatched a team of engineers and technicians to Afghanistan for early completion of three new hospitals to provide relief to the people of the war-torn neighboring country. Buildings of the three hospitals – namely the Nishtar Hospital, Jalalabad; Jinnah Hospital, Kabul; and Logari Hospital, Logar – have been completed. The installation and commissioning of medical equipment worth Rs 2 billion is under way. To bring the medical equipment in use, a team of four Pakistani engineers along with technicians was working round the clock. This would help achieve Universal Health Coverage in our brotherly neighboring country.
d). Free Covid-19 vaccination on borders
Over one hundred thousand (100,000) people travelling from across Afghan borders have been successfully vaccinated against COVID-19 since November last year. Over 51,600 and 55,000 people have been vaccinated at Torkham and Chaman border crossings respectively. Ministry of National Health Services pledged to provide over five hundred thousand doses of COVID-19 vaccine for vaccination at the borders.
