Community must help flood victims — Pakistan envoy

Abu Dhabi/Dubai: The Pakistani community in the UAE has been urged to donate generously for flood victims back home on the occasion of Pakistan's Independence Day.

"The best way to mark the Independence Day is to help your brothers trapped in flood waters," said Ambassador of Pakistan Khursheed Ahmad Junejo. He addressed community members soon after hoisting the flag at a simple ceremony held at the Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Celebrations for the 64th Independence Day of Pakistan were dampened because of the unprecedented floods that devastated the lives of millions of people.

The worst floods in the country's history have left more than 1,700 people dead and some 20 million badly affected with 4 million people without food and shelter.

Pakistanis in the UAE also cancelled their celebration programmes. "On Independence Day, I think, as a patriot I should share the grief of millions of my brethren who are suffering the worst due to the floods," Hasnat Ahmad, 19, an aeronautical engineering student told Gulf News on the sidelines of the Independence Day ceremony at the Pakistani mission.

"I am praying for them; I will give my zakat to them, and encourage others to do so as well," he said.

Echoing similar feelings, Mohsin Ali, 49, a bus driver, said it [floods] is not a tragedy of Pakistan alone but the international community should treat it as a challenge to entire humanity.

Addressing the community, Ambassador Junejo called upon the people to extend all possible help to flood-affected people. "Our community associations are playing effective role but more people should join hands for this cause at all levels because destruction has been unprecedented," he added.

Pakistani Consul General Amjad Ali Sher unfurled the national flag at the Pakistan Consulate General in Dubai in the presence of a large number of community members.

Addressing the community, he said that the community should rise to the occasion and reach out to their flood-affected brethren. He said the Pakistan Consulate will open a flood relief bank account in all branches of UBL so that the community can deposit donations.

He said the Pakistan government has committed all its resources for providing relief to the flood-affected but the enormity of this natural calamity is such that every Pakistani will have to contribute to the cause.

Meanwhile, Xpress Money has announced that it would offer a dirham towards flood relief efforts on every money transaction to Pakistan.