Photos circulating on X (formerly Twitter) have sparked controversy by suggesting that food items Pakistan sent to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka were past their expiry date. The widely shared images show yellow relief packets marked with Pakistani and Sri Lankan flags; some users pointed to a printed date that they read as “10/2024,” and claimed the packs were packed in October 2022 and therefore expired.
One user posted that the aid appeared to be “expired food as flood relief,” while others echoed similar criticisms online. The Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka had earlier shared images of the consignment, saying it included water, milk and biscuits to assist families affected by the recent cyclone and expressing solidarity with Sri Lanka.
The social media posts prompted scrutiny, with several users alleging that portions of the shipment had passed their expiry dates. As of now, Pakistani officials have not issued a statement addressing whether expiry dates were misread, misprinted, or applicable only to certain items. Sri Lankan authorities also have not confirmed whether any expired goods were distributed or withheld.
