KARACHI, Oct 9: Thousands of people in the city on Sunday flocked to different camps to donate generously and help their fellow citizens who have been hit by one of the worst ever earthquakes that hit the northern parts of the country on Saturday.
The people were seen coming to the camps set up by different welfare organizations and paramilitary troops to collect commodities for the President’s Relief Fund For Earthquake Victims-2005. Banks have established special counters at their branches to collect cash donations.
At different camps, funds are being received in the shape of cheques or essential commodities. People were seen contributing money and commodities generously as the atmosphere of the entire city was sad over the deaths of thousands of people in the natural calamity.
A number of stalls were seen established on pavements and footpaths along various roads and intersections in many localities where people were seen donating essential commodities, bed sheets, blankets, powder milk, wheat-flour, pulses, medicines, etc.
Medical camps have also been set up for collecting blood for those injured in the earthquake. Different organizations have sent teams of doctors to the quake-hit parts of the country to contribute to the efforts being made for necessary medical care of the affected people.
Scores of people, working in the metropolis and hailing from the northern part of the country, have rushed to their native towns or villages to inquire about well-being of their families.
All domestic airlines are taking full loads from Karachi to Islamabad as most of the families of those working in Karachi live in the towns and villages around Islamabad or Peshawar.
An airliner official said: “We are taking load in our flights taking off from Karachi for Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar, but the flights returning to Karachi from these destinations are under-load.”
Most of the people have opted for airline and avoided to travel by trains as the Pakistan Railways could not run a special train from Karachi to Rawalpindi/Islamabad despite the fact that the prime minister had ordered for it.
“We do not have such a large number of passengers that we can operate a separate train. We were prepared on Saturday night and a separate train was waiting for passengers but a very few number of passengers turned up. We accommodated them in regular trains last (Saturday) night,” Divisional Superintendent of Karachi Railway Junaid Qureshi said.
Similarly, a special train was ready on Sunday but very small number of passengers turned up who had been accommodated in two bogies that were attached in addition to a regular train, Khyber Mail.
Tents have been pitched and audio cassettes of verses from the holy Quran with Urdu translation are being played. Representatives of different welfare organizations have also placed banners and placards around their camps which carried names of the organizations with appeals for donations.
Shakil Aftab, who was donating foodstuff at a camp at Purani Numaish, said: “I could not imagine what was going on there. I have seen some horrible scenes on different TV channels. I want to help them and the only option for me is to donate essential commodities and foodstuff or cash for those hit by the earthquake.”
CORP HQ: The corps headquarters has set up four disaster relief centres in the city.
A spokesman for the Inter-Services Public Relations said that the relief centres had been established at the old racecourse ground, Army Recruitment and Selection Centre, MP check-post number 2 (in Malir Cantonment) and CSD (in Malir Cantonment).
He said that those desirous of making the donations could call on 9201699, 5602155, 5602206 and 4953760-3 (Malir Cantonment).
He said those desirous of making the donations in Rawalpindi could call on 56134020.
RANGERS: The Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) have announced a donation of Rs1.5 million in addition to one-day salary of their officers to the President’s fund, agencies add.
In a press release issued here on Sunday, Director General of the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) Major General Javed Zia said that the Rangers had dispatched a contingent of troops with a consignment of medicines and blankets for the quake victims in Azad Kashmir.
The Sindh Rangers troops who have already launched a relief operation in Northern Areas have been directed to extend all possible help to the affected people there.
The Rangers have established six relief camps in Sindh at following places to collect donations:- Headquarters Bhittai Rangers, KTC Building Malir Halt, Karachi (021-9248938); Headquarters Sachal Rangers, Shahid Shaheed Park Gulberg, Karachi (021-9246209); Headquarters Abdullah Shah Ghazi Rangers, Nursery Chowk, PECSH, Karachi (021-4389559); Headquarters Qasim Rangers, Barrage Colony, Qasim Chowk, Hyderabad, (0222-2633641); Headquarters Indus Rangers, Near Habib Sugar Mills, Nawabshah (0241-9370277); and Headquarters Shahbaz Rangers, Barrage Colony Military Road, Sukkur (071-9310436).
RELIEF FUND ACCOUNT: The federal government has with immediate effect set up the President’s Relief Fund For Earthquake Victims-2005 for providing relief to the people affected by the worst ever earthquake to hit Pakistan and to mobilize resources for immediate help to the victims.
It has been decided that donations to the fund would be received by all branches of the State Bank of Pakistan Banking Services Corporation (SBPBSC), all treasuries and branches of the National Bank of Pakistan, all branches of the Habib Bank Limited, United Bank Limited, Muslim Commercial Bank Limited and Allied Bank Limited.
The fund may receive donations from both domestic and international donors. Contributions from abroad would be received at all the branches of the above-mentioned banks in the countries where such branches exist.
In other foreign countries, contributions will be received at Pakistan missions and remitted to the SBPBSC, which has asked all the chief managers of its field offices to immediately open the fund account.
It has also asked its chief managers and the presidents of the above-mentioned banks to issue necessary instructions to their branches for collection of donations in this regard.
Meanwhile, chairman and president of the NBP has announced a donation of Rs35 million for the fund.
According to a statement issued here on Sunday, instructions have been issued to all branches of the NBP in and outside the country to establish special counters for receiving donations.
NBP employees have also donated their one-day basic salary to the fund.
MUSLIM GYMKHANA: The Haji Abdullah Haroon Muslim Gymkhana has announced a donation of Rs2 million towards the funds for the relief and rehabilitation of the quake victims. The announcement was made by President of the club, Mohammad Siddique Balwani, who appealed to all clubs, organizations, institutions and forums to come forward and help fellow citizens in this moment of trial and tribulation.
SSGC: The Sui Southern Gas Company has sent a consignment of relief goods to earthquake victims in the Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir, says a press release.
It says the consignment contains 500 packets of dates (one kg each), 500 milk packs, 500 juice packs, 240 bottles of mineral water (500ml each) and 500 packets of biscuits.
The press release says SSGC employees have donated their one day’s salary, which comes to Rs5 million.
Dear visitor, the comments section is undergoing an overhaul and will return soon.