FPCCI's relief efforts

Drawing your attention to a news item pblished in your newspaper in the issue of 22nd October under the heaadline "FPCCI apathy towards relief efforts deplored". We strongly feel that the news item is baised and based on misinformation deliberatel given out to tarnish the image of FPCCI.
It is calrified that only the Chamber and Associations of Trade and Industry are members of FPCCI and not individual businessmen.
The donations to the President' Earthquake Relief Fund by the trade bodies and businessmen are appearing in the nationaal Press.
As far as FPCCI concerned it may be stated its Managing Committee in an emergent meeting approved to raise Rs 5 crores out of which Rs 2 crores were to be donated to the President's Earthquake Relief Fund and the remaining Rs 3 crores for the purchase of tents, blankets and other relief material for direct supply to the quake-affected people.
Presidnet FPCCI Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed is directly supervising the relief efforts and centres have been set up in Abbottabad, Mirpur, Islamabad, Lahore amnd Karachi from where the collection and distribution on relief material are taking place.
Presidents FPCCI has already a cheque of Rs 2 crores to the Prime Minister toward Presidnet's Earthuake Relief Fund.
Over and above the collection of targeted Rs 3 crores it is planned to set up a village of 600 tents in Muzaffarabad which will provide accommodation to 3,600 people for which donors have made commitment.
FPCCI will meet the daily requirements of the inmate's for six months. Efforts are also being made to provide permanent housing to the affected people which will be taken in hand after March.
Besides, amedical team comprising nine lady doctors visited the affected areas under the supervision of Shahid Malik, member, Managing Committee, FPCCI Twentyfive patients have been brought to Karachi for medical treatment and arrangements are being made to bring another 75 patients.
All these efforts speak loudly about the relief efforts of FPCCI. It is really sad that these relief efforts are being appreciated by all except perhaps your esteemed paper and the some so-called anonymous members.
It is true that Captain Abdul Rashid Abro roposed that FPCCI make donation of Rs 2 crores to the President's Earthquake Relief Fund but there were no heated arguments on the proposal, as suggested in the report.
In fact, Tariq Sayeed, former President, FPCCI, supported the proposal and went to the extent of saying that if the target is excessed we should donate more to the President's Relief Fund.
It is reiterated here that the fund raising by FPCCI is continuing with full vigour and it is expected that the targeted amount of Rs 5 crores will be surpassed.
Some parts of the report are highly objectionable and FPCCI strongly objects to them. (The writer is Secretary General, FPCCI.)