ISLAMABAD / QUETTA: British High Commissioner Dr Christian Turner announced humanitarian aid worth 3.5 million pounds for Balochistan during his first visit to Quetta on Thursday.

The aid from the United Kingdom will help over 41,000 women and children get vital nutrients they need through a therapeutic food programme. It will support community outreach workers to identify and help malnourished children, pregnant women and new mothers.

Rates of malnutrition and food insecurity in Balochistan were already high before the Covid-19 pandemic, but the virus has affected livelihoods and made the problem worse.

While announcing the humanitarian aid, High Commissioner Turner said that the Covid-19 pandemic has hit the global economy hard and this has had a knock-on effect on food security in Balochistan.

Meanwhile, Mr Turner called on Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan in Quetta and discussed issues partnering to health, nutrition programme, climate change, women’s education, development and promotion of agriculture and sports.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2021