ISLAMABAD, Oct 11: Overseas Pakistanis pledged Rs60 million donations for the development of education, health and micro enterprises in the country during the 12-hour telethon at the Liaquat Gymnasium on Sunday night.

The star-studded programme organized by the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) attracted Pakistanis from across the globe, especially the US, UK, Canada, Australia and the UAE.

The biggest attraction was the auction of a bat belonging to Sri Lankan star batsman Sanath Jaysuria for Rs2.5 million and live performance by Bangladeshi icon pop star Runa Laila.

Chairman NCHD Dr Nasim Ashraf said Rs10 million had been raised during the last two years. He said the fund and support from the government and donor agencies had helped the commission set up about 9,000 additional community-based primary schools, 4,000 adult literacy centres and enrol over one million out-of-school children.

Besides, 14,000 teachers were trained in 17 districts. He said nearly 650,000 women had been trained in primary health care while 25,000 children were immunised during the last one year.