ISLAMABAD Pop singer Hadiqa Kiani and tennis player Aisamul Haq Qureshi have been appointed 'Goodwill Ambassadors' for Pakistan's early recovery effort from the unprecedented floods.

The two stars will use their celebrity status and broad appeal to help the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) raise the profile of needs of more than 20 million people starting to rebuild their lives after the floods that have devastated the country since July, a UNDP press release says.

Hadiqa and Aisam will deliver messages of support for early recovery efforts as UNDP mounts efforts in 39 of the worst affected areas of the country to restore livelihoods through job creation, repair of basic community infrastructure and strengthening of local government offices to get public services running again.

“UNDP is helping communities affected by the floods rebuild their lives and I am proud to add my personal commitment to these efforts,” said Hadiqa, who has already helped UNDP raise awareness of environmental issues through her songs.

“It is important for me to help people who lost everything because of the floods to get back on their feet,” said Aisam. “I am honoured to become a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNDP in Pakistan.”

“UNDP is very pleased that Hadiqa and Aisamul Haq have come on board as our first national goodwill ambassadors in Pakistan,” said UNDP Country Director Toshihiro Tanaka.