Chairperson 'Save the Flood Victims Fund', Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday launched a campaign to raise funds for the flood affected persons across the country.
President, PPP Women's Wing Faryal Talpur, Federal Advisor on Textile and Co-ordinator Peoples Business Forum Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, CM Advisor on Investment Zubair Motiwala, NBP President Syed Ali Raza, General Secretary PPP Sindh Taj Haider, leading businessmen including President Karachi Chamber of Commerce Abdul Majeed Haji Mohammad, former president FPCCI and President Saarc Chamber Syed Tariq Sayeed, former president FPCCI - S M Muneer were present on the occasion and announced donations in cash and kind for flood victims.
Speaking on the occasion, Bakhtawar said these catastrophic floods have washed away people, their children, their livelihoods and even entire towns. "The scale of this tragedy is unimaginable and conservative estimates show that more than $15 billion are now required to rebuild the affected areas", she noted.
She said that from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the agricultural heartland of Punjab and now the Southern Sindh province, fellow Pakistanis have been forced to leave their homes, their livelihoods and all their belongings behind. The severity of the situation is so extreme that the damages caused by Hurricane Katrina, which pushed back a trillion dollar US economy by several years, are nothing compared to the relative cost of crop, infrastructure and livelihood destruction during these floods.
She pointed out that 12 million people have been affected directly by flood and heavy rains, 1,600 people already lost their lives and 650,000 have been left homeless and exposed to diseases. "They depend on all of us to create hope. Now, more than ever before, our country, our Pakistan, our brothers and sisters need our help", she added. Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari said that the magnitude of these floods will have long and far reaching challenges, but right now one of the largest humanitarian crises is happening on our soil. Pakistan is drowning, we need to come together and help our people, the victims of the worst flood, in history.
She noted that unfortunately, "the poorest of the poor" have been most affected. They have been left with virtually nothing, and they are living in makeshift shelters (relief camps). The government of Pakistan in flood relief and rescue operations has so far rescued over 300,000 stranded people. She said the President has set-up a special cell to monitor flood situations and the Prime Minister has established a relief fund for the victims.
The world has stood with Pakistan during our worst disaster. The World Food Programme has issued a $30 million request to assist families. The World Bank has given substantial aid and has offered to set up a fund for the victims. United States has pledged $55 million to aid those affected. Britain has pledged 10 million pounds of immediate relief for flood victims and another 10 million pounds for bridge reconstruction programme. France has announced 5 million Euros to aid the displaced people, but a lot more needs to be done.
"I have also personally launched a campaign to raise funds and so far generated Rs 30 million. The funds will be used to purchase utility bags each weighing around 35 kg. These bags contain a variety edibles including 20 kg of flour, 5 kg of rice, 500 dates, daal (lentils), sugar, dry milk, oil, drinking water etc", she added.
"Now is the time for us to stand up and show them that they are not alone in their grief. "Help me to help them and donate from your heart, and donate as much as you can", she appealed. President PPP Women's Wing Faryal Talpur, in her speech, also urged the business community to personally visit the affected area or send their children to assess the devastation and involve themselves in the relief work and personally distribute merchandise among the flood victims.
"This flood has destroyed each and every belonging of these people and this is the time that they need your help", she added. She assured the businessmen that she will recommend the tax authorities to consider tax exemption on contributions to the "Save the Flood Victims" fund.
Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Zubair Motiwala, Abdul Majeed Haji Mohammad, Tariq Sayeed, S M Muneer, Taj Haider also spoke on the occasion and pledged to contribute towards the fund in cash and kind. NBP President Syed Ali Raza announced a contribution of Rs 10 million towards the fund, S M Muneer Rs 7.5 million in kind, Yasin Malik announced to provide a supply of three trucks of medicines, Naureen Baig, Razzak Agar announced a donation of Rs 0.5 million each on the occasion.
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