NEW DELHI: Pakistan has blamed Indian media for creating an unnecessary controversy over the inclusion of beef in food packets, pointing out that it was listed on the cover and there had been no objection from Nepal government.
Indian media reports from Kathmandu had quoted an Indian doctor as saying that a ‘Meal Ready to Eat’ (MRE) package sent by Pakistan for quake victims had an ingredient listed as ‘beef masala’. It was claimed by the Indian doctor that sentiments of Nepal were hurt by Pakistan sending this package.
“It is unfortunate that Indian media has not even spared a humanitarian mission and has, unnecessarily, tried to inject controversy into it,” Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said in Islamabad on Thursday.
She said that one MRE has pre-packed 20 items for a full-day’s meals. “On each and every packet inside the kit the name of the dish is clearly written in English and Urdu so that people may choose whatever they like to eat or discard. Both the languages are understood in Nepal,” pointed out the spokesperson.
She also pointed out that there had been no complaints from Nepal. “The Nepalese authorities found the MREs so effective that they specially requested for a full plane load of MREs on priority,” added Aslam.