Friday, August 27, 2010

Rotary helps flood victims in Pakistan: Aziz Memon

By Mohammad Nazakat Ali

“From raising funds to distributing life-saving shelters, the Rotary clubs worldwide, together with the local clubs, are proactively assisting flood victims in Pakistan day and night to help those in need.”

This was observed by Mr Aziz Memon, Chairman, National Polio Committee, Rotary International, who has remained the Governor of the Rotary clubs in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the other day.

“The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, one of the largest humanitarian service organizations in the world, is accepting member contributions to its Pakistan Flooding Recovery Fund to support long-term recovery in the affected areas, which have sustained billions of dollars in damage according to the Pakistani government,” he disclosed.

“The Rotary clubs are also providing immediate humanitarian assistance to flood victims, which the United Nations estimates to be more than 17.2 million people. The Rotary members in both Pakistan and Afghanistan are working together besides facilitating the international clubs,” Mr Aziz Memon said.

“Among the first international relief to reach flood victims in Pakistan was ShelterBox. a UK-based disaster response organization supported by Rotary clubs worldwide. More than 1,900 ShelterBox tents and 600 ShelterBox kits, each containing a 10-person tent, a water purification system and other survival necessities for up to six months, were pre-positioned in Pakistan in June following predictions of a particularly bad monsoon season,” the Rotary official added.

In partnership with the French Embassy Islamabad and National Disaster Management Authority Pakistan, Rotary members distributed the ShelterBox kits to the hardest hit areas.

John Leach, ShelterBox Head of Operations, said: “The need for shelter in Pakistan is growing by the day. We need to get more aid in as quickly as possible. By working with our international partners we can make this happen.”

ShelterBox is sending 5,000 water filtration units and 2,500 water containers to flooded areas. More ShelterBox kits are due to arrive in Pakistan soon.

A Rotary club in Houston, Texas, USA, filled two 40-foot shipping containers with relief supplies, and is coordinating with Rotary clubs in Pakistan to deliver them to Karachi, where local clubs will help distribute the goods.

A Rotary club in Multan, Pakistan has established five flood relief camps at local hospitals. Rotary members are collecting tents, household items, food, and medicine.

Experts warn of a second wave of deaths from water-borne diseases such as cholera unless flood victims have access to supplies of fresh drinking water. World Water Works, a Rotary-club sponsored relief organization that provides disaster victims with water purification tools, has sent more than 600 boxes to the southern province of Sindh. Hugo Pike, chair of World Water Works and a member of the Rotary club in Avon, England, says each box contains a water purification kit that can supply each member of a family of four with about 2 quarts of drinking water every day for a year.

Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary’s global membership is approximately 1.2 million men and women who belong to more than 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

PFA managing committee members visit Aquafina & Pakola Milk Factory

In the group pictures show PFA General Secretary, Umar Qasim, Director Lal Qila, Executive Member, Razi Ahsan, CEO, Umar Group of companies, Association Secretary, Syed Faheem, Masood Mustafa, General Manager, Aquafina Plant, M. Mubashir Khan Durrrani, M. Sadiq Edhi, Tasveeb Zehra Shirazi and students from Karachi University Food Science Department also seen.
The members of the managing committee of Pakistan Food Association (PFA) and students from Karachi University Food Science Department undertook a visit to Aquafina & Pakola Milk Factory here in the near Toll Plaza, Dist. Malir, Karachi.

The visiting team included the PFA General Secretary, Umar Qasim, Director Lal Qila, Executive Member, Razi Ahsan, CEO, Umar Group of companies and Association Secretary, Syed Faheem.

They went round various sections of the Aquafina & Pakola Milk factory and inspected the latest machines and equipment installed there. Masood Mustafa, General Manager, Aquafina Plant apprised the visitors that the Pakistan Beverage Limited believes in ethical values and strengthening the institutions.

PFA General Secretary, Umar Qasim said that the main objective of PFA is to provide food protection information about health to companies, knowledge sharing and network.

Umar said that the PFA would organise seminars and training workshops to produce skilled and trained personnel in the field.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Exhibition: Realer Raum/Bild Raum Postponed

Due to unavoaidable circumstances in Karachi the inauguration of the exhibition "Realer Raum/Bild Raum (Real Space Conceptual Space)" at Goethe-Institut Pakistan has been postponed till Tuesday 10th August 2010.

Earlier the program was suppossed to be held on 5th August 2010.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Bloodshed in Karachi after Haqparast MPA Raza Haider shot dead

By Faraz Khan

KARACHI: A Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader and a member of the Sindh Assembly, Raza Haider, and his security guard were gunned down by unidentified motorcyclists inside a mosque in the Nazimabad area on Monday.

Life in the provincial capital was crippled following the incident, as at least 35 people were killed and more than 125 injured in incidents of violence that broke out in various areas in response to the killing.

Around three-dozen vehicles and several shops were set ablaze, while massive traffic jams were witnessed at almost all major thoroughfares of the city.

Two unidentified men shot dead 50-year-old Haider and his security guard Khalid Khan inside the Jamia Masjid Aqsa in Nazimabad Block No 2, when the lawmaker was getting ready to say his prayers at the mosque.

Bodies of the two victims were taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. MLO Dr Sheraz told Daily Times that the MPA sustained six bullet wounds – three from a sub-machine gun and three from a 9mm pistol – while his guard had sustained only one bullet injury.

The condition of a teenage boy Arsalan, who was also wounded in the attack, was stable, he added.

Liaquatabad Town SP Waqar Mallan told that police found empty shells of a 9mm pistol and an SMG from the crime scene. The SP added that the culprits arrived at the mosque on two motorcycles and a white-coloured car.

“Two of the four men on the motorcycles entered the mosque and after shouting ‘Allah-o-Akbar’ opened fire on the MQM leader and his guard,” the officer said.

“The sketches that we are preparing with the help of eyewitnesses would be provided to the media after they are finalised, but our first priority is to control the law and order situation,” he added.

Meanwhile, violence and anarchy spread throughout the city following the MPA’s murder. Besides several vehicles and shops, a petrol pump, roadside stalls and pushcarts in various parts of the city were set ablaze by protesters.

Routine life was suspended and commercial activities came to a halt due to the violence, as several people stuck in traffic jams had parked their vehicles on the roads and walked to their destinations.

The MQM Rabita Committee announced three days of mourning. The committee said special prayers would also be organised for Haider.

Separately, MQM chief Altaf Hussain called for a high-level probe into Haider’s murder.

Condemning the killing, Altaf termed it a big tragedy, according to a statement by the MQM. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, and the four chief ministers strongly condemned the killing of the MQM leader.

The PM appealed to MQM party workers to avoid taking any extreme measures to express outrage against those who had committed this heinous crime. (DT)