Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday welcomed the United Nations (UN) initiative of launching a $5 billion funding appeal for Afghanistan to shore up collapsing basic services there.

The prime minister took to his official Twitter handle and said, “We welcome this UN initiative which has followed Pak-initiated special OIC FMs meeting’s pledged support.”

We welcome this UN initiative which has followed Pak-initiated special OIC FMs mtg's pledged support. I have been making this appeal to int community to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan where the ppl have suffered ravages of 40 yrs of conflicthttps://www.bolnews.com/pakistan/2022/01/imran-khan-lauds-un-for-launching-5bn-appeal-for-afghanistan/amp/

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 12, 2022

He added: “I have been making this appeal to int community to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan where the people have suffered ravages of 40 years of conflict.”

In December last year, a specially convened meeting of the 57 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) had unanimously agreed on establishing a Humanitarian Trust Fund, launching a Food Security Programme and engaging with the World Health Organisation (WHO) for securing vaccines and medical supplies for Afghanistan.

Read more: Interior ministry introduces mechanism to facilitate INGOs relief work in Afghanistan

In its biggest-ever single-country appeal, the UN said $4.4 billion was needed within Afghanistan, while a further $623 million was required to support the millions of Afghans sheltering beyond its borders.

Read more: UN wants $5 bn aid for Afghanistan in 2022