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DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the world’s richest people, announced Wednesday that he will donate all of his wealth of $32 billion to charity over the coming years.
The money will go to the Saudi prince’s organisation called Alwaleed Philanthropies to work in the fields of “intercultural understanding” and supporting communities in need, he said in a statement.
Programmes will include promoting health, eradicating disease, bringing electricity to remote villages, building orphanages and schools, as well as “empowering women.”
The prince, chairman of investment firm Kingdom Holding Company, said he has already donated $3.5bn to the charitable organisation.
Alwaleed joins other billionaires who have made similar pledges in recent years, such as Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Michael Bloomberg.
Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2015
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Comments (54) Closed
Jul 02, 2015 08:25am
Welcome step by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, this will bring the positive perception about Muslims in the world.
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Jul 02, 2015 08:32am
Hope Pakistan is on his radar we need all his 32bn and more.
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Jul 02, 2015 08:39am
here's something for a change....
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Jul 02, 2015 08:58am
My question - how much will the prince have left in his coffers after donating 32b to charity?
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Jul 02, 2015 09:03am
Most commendable. Most praiseworthy. I wish, I pray, I hope other rich and super-rich will emulate the blessed and magnanimous Prince.
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Jul 02, 2015 09:14am
I hope this money doesn't find its way to hate preaching Madrassas.
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Jul 02, 2015 09:20am
In the past Saudi donations have mostly been used to spread hate and terror. We should be careful with this huge DONATION. I hope it is not for the terrorists.
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Jul 02, 2015 09:38am
Commendable ! Other rich Muslims also to follow him, if not for whole wealth atleast a portion of their uncountable wealth.
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Jul 02, 2015 09:43am
@Zak
At end of the day prince will have nothing in his pocket. The whole money will have to go in the pockets of Pakistani politicians and bureaucrats. The nation treasury will empty even then.
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Jul 02, 2015 09:53am
He can save a nation #Greece by donating $1.7 billion.
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Jul 02, 2015 09:53am
Respected Sudi Prince why don't you think about educational funding, because charity donation has now become misused and disgruntled.
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Jul 02, 2015 10:01am
$32 bn?? His actual assets amount to $103billion.
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Jul 02, 2015 10:04am
GOD BLESS HIM
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Jul 02, 2015 10:07am
What charity? If he donates his wealth in next 60 years, he is just donating a small portion of the interest he is earning from his $ 32bn. If he is really serious he should donate all of it at once and built a few power plants in Pakistan.
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Jul 02, 2015 10:10am
Wait, he has not given the money yet. He is pledging the money. Let him donate or transfer the money first, and then all the praise should come.
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Jul 02, 2015 11:24am
Pakistan should try to stand on its own feet.
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Jul 02, 2015 11:30am
Good step. hope others will follow
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Jul 02, 2015 11:34am
Did he earn this money through his own struggle or looted the wealth of the people?
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Jul 02, 2015 12:36pm
It doesn't say in the report that the money is going to Pakistan. By the way I think all these rich people are pledging their wealth away is because the paper currency of the dollar is nothing but toilet paper, it is heading towards a crash in 2016. The real currency is Gold and Silver.
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Jul 02, 2015 01:41pm
Why hope donation for pakistan only or Muslims only why not for human being's
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Jul 02, 2015 01:45pm
Such a great step for his own peoples.
I wish if Zardari do the same for Pakistan.
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Jul 02, 2015 02:27pm
Money will change pockets. This guy owns Fox news and we all know what Fox News is all about.
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Jul 02, 2015 03:39pm
Pakistan should eye that money and that too very fast before he donates it to someone else.
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Jul 02, 2015 03:41pm
Instead of conducting stupid meetings everyday, COAS and Nawaz should discuss how to get that money
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Jul 02, 2015 04:06pm
The money must be invested in no profit, no gain type of best hospitals in Muslim areas where Muslims are neglected.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:14pm
No nation has ever risen to greatness on donations and alms. If Pakistan is to progress, it must be done on its own resources. Only then it will be lasting progress. And Pakistan has some great resource that none of Gulf states have i.e. tens of millions of progressive, hard working and talented people. Given the atmosphere they will propel country to riches much greater than this Prince is offering.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:50pm
Miah saab can convince him to give us some of it to strengthen friendship and brotherhood and can be justified unlikely last proceeds we received forn Saudi Kingdom.
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Jul 02, 2015 04:51pm
well, what if the king disallows such charity and confiscate all the wealth of the prince
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Jul 02, 2015 05:23pm
Also build universities in Muslim world. Help destroy "IS"
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Jul 02, 2015 05:36pm
Bless you, Prince Waleed, remember poor people of Somalia Sudan Eritrea Djibouti as they need schools and source of income. Just don't give them as 'one time donation', rather setup system. Don't give them fish rather teach them how to catch the fish. Almighty bless you Prince Waleed. Unfortunately, the Pakistani riches only give 'lunger' to poor masses, no schools or hospitals or small cottage industry. Alas! And they claim to be Muslims, how?
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Jul 02, 2015 05:42pm
Great initiative mr.prince. Can I just request something instead. Even though you have a great charity working to eradicate diseases and bringing electricity to village but I just wanna say you should invest your 32 billion to eradicate hunger in this world. Billions of people are dying or are hungry. I would imagine your fortune might be enough to eradicate hunger from our planet once and for all.
Thats just my opinion. Its your money and you have every right to spend it which ever way you want.
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Jul 02, 2015 06:25pm
@Zak -Yes Sharif family is first in the line.
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Jul 02, 2015 06:30pm
@amar Agree
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Jul 02, 2015 06:43pm
@Naseer I doubt it very much if this guy is into terrorism. He seems to be a cultured person.
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Jul 02, 2015 06:50pm
The actual news headline was that he vows to donate 32 Pillions. Don't get excited!
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Jul 02, 2015 07:47pm
What a pitty even they learn about Charity from people of Western Society.
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Jul 02, 2015 08:51pm
I hope Pakistan will one day come out of the begging mode.
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Jul 02, 2015 09:19pm
Its not his own to begin with.
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Jul 02, 2015 09:44pm
A good step taken by an arabian prince where there is became wrong perception about arabs that tehy are miser persons intodays era.
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Jul 02, 2015 11:43pm
This man was giving Bentleys to each Saudi pilot who raided Yemen. He is controversial.
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Jul 03, 2015 12:56am
@Shailesh .. Exactly ... he is donating for humanity .... we need to spare his religious belief and praise his help for humanity .. I don't know why we bring religion in to every positive and negative news about anyone who is Muslim ( it goes both ways ) ... If someone blows himself to proof his (fanatic) point, that his own problem, should have nothing to do with religion. If someone wants to donate billions in charity, again that's his personal determination, nothing to do with religion.
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Jul 03, 2015 02:41am
@Mohammad Alamgir : I agree stop begging enough is enough , build your pride.
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Jul 03, 2015 04:17am
He needs to help empower women to aid him in this work.
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Jul 03, 2015 04:22am
@Padmakar ... It is not his purpose to make Muslims look good. It is a personal decision using two American billionaire's philanthropic model. Did you miss the point about promoting cultural understanding? Pakistan could use a little more of that.
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Jul 03, 2015 04:24am
@Zak ... God will provide.
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Jul 03, 2015 04:37am
@Patriot Pakistani .... That has already been answered by Bill and Linda Gates and Warren Buffet. They are giving away like amounts of money - but they will still have their investments ticking. The 35 billion added together with the others amounts to one trillion two hundred million in their foundations. Added to that are other contributors. In the end the combined money should be 1.5 trillion to 2 trillion plus 10% growth per year.
If others will be inspired the sky is the limit.
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Jul 03, 2015 04:39am
@Prof Abdul Malik ... They already have to the tune of 85 billion dollars in addition.
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Jul 03, 2015 04:46am
@SAT ... That is already taken care of.
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Jul 03, 2015 04:52am
@probono Publico .... That is already planned on the Bill and Linda Gates Foundation model, but it will be used mostly for poorer Muslim people worldwide.
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Jul 03, 2015 05:06am
@Murtaza .... It will when people realize the world does not owe them a living.
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Jul 03, 2015 05:07am
@Tahir Khan ..... It's yours?
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Jul 03, 2015 05:09am
@Rehan .... Good thinking, Rehan.
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Jul 03, 2015 06:50am
Part of it should be used to rebuild Yemen.It is their moral right.
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Jul 03, 2015 03:45pm
Well done, Your Excellency, and a great gesture during the Holy month of Ramadan 2015/1435 AH and it is hoped that other Royalties and Philanthropists will follow suit and attempt to reduce poverty and make our world relatively 'equitable' and a 'just' place.
Posted by:
ZAC Consulting
'working in practice and international development
for a better, inclusive, and peaceful world'
United Kingdom
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