KARACHI, Feb 17: Big and small companies around the world are all geared up to claim their business share from more than $4 billion being pumped in Indonesia and Sri Lanka
, the two most affected countries from the devastating tsunami that hit their coasts on December 25.
Out of this total commitment of $4 billion, Sri Lanka is expected to receive $1.3 billion. Sri Lanka has the capacity to provide goods and services worth $300 million from its own sources but will depend for $1 billion of goods on the foreign countries.
Indian companies with the help and guidance of their government are ahead of many firms from other countries to claim their share in relief business in the coastal areas of Sri Lanka.
The disaster is estimated to have killed 40,000, uprooted 443,000 persons and reduced to nothing 65 per cent of the fishing boats in Sri Lanka. The loss of 65 per cent of the fishing boats has been too telling on the already impoverished fishermen community.
The tiny Muslim community estimated at around 8 per cent of the total population is reported to have received the biggest hit both in terms of loss of lives, property and displacement of people. Out of 40,000 killed 13,000 are estimated to be Muslims. Quite a big number of Muslims have been uprooted and a large number of Muslim fishermen lost their boats.
Amidst this 'gold rush' is a team of Pakistani engineers and technicians in Sri Lanka to help the Sri Lankan fishermen in making fish boats. "There is no question of making any money from the help we are giving to Sri Lankan fishermen to construct a low cost fishing boat," Amjad Rashid of the International Multi Group of Companies said.
Amjad Rashid has sponsored the mission to help Sri Lankan fishermen develop and construct small fish boats. His gesture has been acknowledged at the highest level during the recent visit of Sri Lankan President to Pakistan.
