Picture for Representation. (Photo: Reuters)
New Delhi: A Qatari businessman has taken the aerial route to tackle the supply shortage of fresh milk after several gulf nations severed ties with his country.
Moutaz Al Khayyat will fly in 4,000 cows in 60 flights to tackle the supply crisis, Bloomberg reported.
“This is the time to work for Qatar,” Khayyat, chairman of Power International Holding said.
The bovines, brought in Australia and the US, will be flown in through Qatar Airways. The milk production is expected to start by June-end.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates had severed diplomatic ties with Qatar over Doha’s alleged support for Islamist militant groups. Qatar has denied those charges.
Most of the fresh milk and dairy products for Doha’s more than 1 million population came from Saudi Arabia up until a week ago. But the isolation that started on June 5 has forced Qatar to look at new friends to import food and other materials.
On Sunday, Iran had sent five planes of vegetables to Qatar. “So far five planes carrying… vegetables have been sent to Qatar, each carrying around 90 tonnes of cargo, while another plane will be sent on Sunday,” Iran Air spokesman Shahrokh Noushabadi had told AFP.
Three ships loaded with 350 tonnes of fruit and vegetables were also set to leave an Iranian port for Qatar.
Dairy products have also been flown in from Turkey and there is a campaign to urge people to use homegrown products.
Source: News18