The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday collected donations for Rs 3.5 million for the victims of devastating earthquake.
On the first leg of their fund-raising campaign, the LCCI team comprising its President Mian Shafqat Ali and other office bearers visited three markets including Brandreth Road, Landa Bazar and Chamberlain Road (Ferozuddin Road).
At Chamberlain Road, Photogoods Association President Mian Zaheer, Senior vice Chairman Nasir Saeed and other office-bearers received the LCCI team. Mian Zaheer thanked the LCCI office-bearers for sparing time for a noble cause and assured them of fullest co-operation of the association. He said not only more cash funds would be collected but goods would also be dispatched to the victims in far-flung areas.
Speaking on this occasion, Shafqat Ali said the trading community would leave no stone unturned for the help of those who were in need at the moment. He said the settlement of displaced and homeless persons was one of the priorities of LCCI.
LCCI Vice President Aftab Vohra while addressing the participants said not only the business community but also every Pakistani should play its role at that hour of distress. He said the LCCI was doing its best to generate maximum funds and would also ensure proper and right utilisation of those funds.
Former LCCI Presidents Iftikhar Ali Malik, Mian Anjum Nisar and Mian Misbah said in the face of such a massive devastation caused by deadly earthquake, they needed to make collective efforts to bring the victims out of that trouble.
At the end of the function, Mian Mohammad Fazil and Mian Zaheer presented cheques of donations to the LCCI President.
The LCCI team also visited Landa Bazar and Brandreth Road where Anjum Butt and Haji Abdul Rab assured them of their full co-operation in the fund raising campaign.
Meanwhile, Businessmen Panel Chairman Tariq Sayeed and Co-Chairman and former FPCCI President Iftikhar Ali Malik urged the business community to raise to the occasion and respond generously to the emergent call of their groaning brothers who needed their assistance at that hour of grief, misery and destruction caused by unprecedented earthquake.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday they said relief camps had been established at FPCCI Offices in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Mirpur. Businessmen could deposit their cash donations, medicines and other relief goods at those camps. Collective relief through FPCCI would ensure proper utilisation of funds and immediate disbursement among the victims and needy, they added.-PR