National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chief Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal has clarified that the personal protective equipment (PPE) sent to the United States (US) as a gesture of solidarity amid the coronavirus pandemic, was by the country’s armed forces and not the government, Dawn reported.

The consignment of PPE arrived at Andrew Air Force Base (AFB), Maryland Via C-130 flight from Islamabad, Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Dr Asad Majeed Khan, and senior officers of the embassy’s defence wing were present at the airport.

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Acting Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs David Helvey with other American officials were also present on the airbase.

On the occasion, Ambassador Khan referred to the cordial ties between the people of two countries and their armed forces.

He said that armed forces of both countries fought together in the global war on terrorism and would stand together in the fight against COVID-19 too.

The Pakistani envoy said that it was a manifestation of the longstanding and close cooperation between the armed forces of both countries, particularly in dealing with the natural calamity.

The equipment has been handed over to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for delivery to the US Armed Forces.