Pakistan Criticised for Sending Expired Flood Aid to Sri Lanka as India Leads Major Relief Mission

Pakistan’s humanitarian outreach to flood-hit Sri Lanka has sparked outrage after photos shared by the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo appeared to show expired relief supplies. The controversy has triggered a wave of criticism online, overshadowing Islamabad’s attempt to express solidarity with a nation battling widespread devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

The incident unfolded after the High Commission posted images of its relief shipment on X, claiming Pakistan stands “today and always” with Sri Lanka. However, social media users quickly zoomed in on labels showing “EXP: 10/2024,” suggesting that parts of the consignment may have crossed their shelf life.

Social Media Backlash After High Commission’s Post

Within hours, Pakistan’s post was flooded with comments accusing the country of sending unusable or unsafe items to disaster victims. Critics questioned how such packages were cleared for dispatch and why the mission shared the images without verifying the labels.

The Pakistan government and its Colombo mission have so far not issued any clarification.

India Launches Massive Relief Effort Under Operation Sagar Bandhu

While Pakistan grappled with online criticism, India intensified its relief operation in Sri Lanka with large-scale deployments by the Navy, Air Force, NDRF and MEA under its Neighbourhood First policy.

Since November 28, India has delivered 53 tonnes of humanitarian aid by air and sea, and evacuated over 2,000 stranded Indians from affected regions.

The MEA stated that NDRF teams continue search and rescue operations in remote areas, having already saved more than 150 people.

Helicopter missions by INS Vikrant’s Chetaks and IAF’s MI-17s winched stranded civilians — including pregnant women, infants, vulnerable elderly and critically injured individuals — from submerged regions.

Multinational Evacuation Effort

India’s rescue teams evacuated citizens not only from Sri Lanka and India but also from Germany, the UK, Slovenia, South Africa, Poland, Belarus, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Australia — reinforcing New Delhi’s commitment to humanitarian assistance beyond borders.

The aid delivered by India included:

• 31.5 tonnes of relief via IAF aircraft

• Tents, blankets, tarpaulins and hygiene kits

• Medicines, surgical supplies and two BHISHM medical cubes

• An 80-member NDRF Urban Search and Rescue unit

• An additional 12 tonnes aboard INS Sukanya

Special IAF flights using C-130J and IL-76 aircraft flew evacuees back to Hindon and Trivandrum.

India’s coordinated multi-agency response has been widely acknowledged, standing in sharp contrast to Pakistan’s mishandled shipment.