Cabinet Committee on Fund Raising from Business Community for Earthquake Relief Mobilises Rs. 3.3 Billion Relief

CABINET COMMITTEE ON FUND RAISING FROM BUSINESS COMMUNITY FOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF MOBILISES RS.3.3 BILLION RELEIF- Hafeez Shaikh

Islamabad, October 14, 2005

The Cabinet Committee on Fund Raising from Business Community for Earthquake Relief has mobilized an amount of Rs.3.3 billion from 139 domestic business groups for the President of Pakistan Relief Fund, which would increase further in the coming days. Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment who is also Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on FRFBCFER constituted by the Prime Minister said in a statement issued here today.

He said that the Cabinet Committee secretariat has so far approached over 900 business chambers, associations, overseas Pakistanis and Pakistani Missions during the past four days. The response received was more than encouraging, which reflected that the Pakistani nation has always come forward and united themselves in the hour of grief and sorrow and helped each other with a devoting spirit, the Minister stated.

Dr. Hafeez Shaikh urged the business groups to contribute more donations towards the President's Relief Fund to overcome the miseries of the devastating earthquake victims swiftly to win the race against time. The unprecedented response by the people from all walks of life has given a new hope of life to the people of the effected areas, he added.

He informed that Trading Corporation of Pakistan has announced to donate sufficient quantity of sugar for the effected areas while Minister of State for Commerce has indicated funds worth Rs.155 million form State Life Insurance Corporation, National Insurance Corporation and Pakistan Tobacco Board. The State Bank of Pakistan has already issued instructions to all banks/ FIs to assist Ministry of Privatisation & Investment in fund raising.

The appeal for fund raising has so far received very quick and warm response from the business community. A sum of Rs.2, 839. 63 million has been raised for the President's Relief Fund, Rs. 70. 7 million to other relief funds and contribution in kind worth Rs. 377. 25 million, the Minister gave the breakup.

The details of the donations and contributions made by various business groups as on 14 October 2005 includes Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Rs.200 M, National Highway Authority Rs.220 M, Citibank Rs.180 M, Pakistan Petroleum Exploration & Production Companies Association Rs.154. 6 M, Al-Warid Telecom Rs.120 M, Pepsi Cola Rs.120 M, Pharma Bureau Karachi Rs. 100 M, SLIC Rs 100 M, Fauji foundation Rs.100 M, Bank Al-Falah Rs.100 M, Askari Commercial Bank Rs.100 M, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association Rs. 100 M, Punjab Government Rs.100 M, Telenor Rs.65 M, Oil & Gas Development Company Rs.50 M, National Insurance Rs.50 M, Hubco Rs.50 M, United Bank Rs.50 M, Attock Oil Company Limited Rs.48 M, Pak Arab Refinery Rs.40 M, NBP Rs.35 M, Mansha Group Rs.35 M, Dutsche Bank Rs.31. 6 M, HBL Rs.30 M, Motorola Rs.30 M, Karachi International Container Terminal Rs.30 M, Serena hotel / Aga Khan Foundation Rs.30 M, Eni Pakistan Rs.30 M, OMV (Pakistan) Exploration Rs.30 M, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited Rs.30 M, Shell Rs. 30 M, ANGRO Chemical Rs.21 M, PSO Rs.20 M, Fatima Group Rs.20 M plus 2 day salary of 8000 employees, MERCK Rs.20 M, Nestle Milkpak Rs.20 M (Juices, Milk & Water) and Rs.20 M (for Rehabilitation), Pak Kuwait Investment Company Rs.20 M, Indus Motors Rs.20 M, Dewan Farooq Rs.20 M, Bestway Rs.20 M, GSK Rs.20 M, Proctor & Gamble Rs.20 M, Orix Leasing Pakistan Rs.15 M, All Pakistan Poultry Association Rs.15 M, Union Bank Rs.15 M, Allied Bank Rs.15 M, ICI, Rs. 15 M, Mr. Muhammad Sajjad Shaikh Bahrain Rs.10 M, Prime Bank Rs.10 M, Din Group Rs.125 M, Kohinoor Maple Leaf Group Rs.10 M, Pak Refinery Rs.10M, CDC Partners Rs.10 M, Asian Development Bank Rs.10 M, Gatron/Novatex Rs.10 M, Arabian Sea Rs.10 M, Dubai Investment Rs.8 M, BOC Pakistan Rs.8 M, Nokia Rs.7.2 M, Jardine Fleming Pakistan Rs.6 M, Tetra Pakistan Rs.6 M, Telekom Malaysia Rs.6 M, Dada Bhi Group Rs.5.5 M, Crescent Commercial Bank Rs.5 M, Orient Petroleum Rs.5 M, Bank of Tokyo Rs.5 M, Pakistan Tobacco Board Rs.5 M, Hashoo Group Rs.5 M, Mashreq Bank Rs. 5 M, Baner (Pak) Ltd Rs.5 M, Saif Group Rs.5 M, Suzuki Pakistan Rs.5 M, Meezan Bank Rs.3.5 M, Fauji Oil Rs.3.2 M, Greens Hotel Rs.3 M, Aventis Pharma Rs.3 M, Siemens Pakistan Rs.2 M, Mr. Hamid Mustanshin Imtiazi Rs. 2 M and Amjad Textile Rs.2 M.

The other contributors include POF, Usman Memorial Foundation, BASF Pakistan, Gestetner, KSB PumpsInternational Housing finance, SME Bank, Alcatel, Dawood Hercules Chemicals, Millat Tractors, Mahr Garments, Pakgro Group, M/s Coper Nicus, Skincrafts, Pakistan Textile Exporters Association, Shezan International, Continental Biscuits, General Shipping Agencies, World Bank Staff, Guard Group, Dadex Internet, P & O MackinnonIDBP, Asif Engineering & Mechanical Works, Sadaf International, Central Motors, CENtax, Kodak, New Hampshire, Caltex, Sukkur Chamber of Commerce, Automotive Spares & Accessories, Saif Telecom, Executive Network International, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce, Global Securities, Saleem Group of Industries, Rawalpindi Chamber, Johnson & Johnson, Habib Hijaz Traders, Mardan Chamber, Ghandara Nissan, Anam Weaving Mills, Dosondi International, Atlanta Enterprises, Hope & Heal, Gillette Pak, Qamar & Company, Alhamra Industries, AJK Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Associated Textile Consultant, Manawar Industry, Kampala Industries, Makinnon Mackenzie, Lufthansa Cargo, J & P Coats, J.J. Hydraulic Pneumatic Systems, Siddiq Sons Denim Mills, Premium Textile Mills and Habib Cotton Industries.

The Ministry of Privatisation & Investment is working as unofficial secretariat of the Committee while Mr. M. Tahsin Khan Iqbal Secretary M/o P & I shall be coordinating Secretary supported by Mr. Talat Miyan of BOI and Mr. Abdul Ahad Effendi of PC.

The other members of the Committee includes Mr. Humayun Akhtar Khan minister for Commerce, Mr. Owais Ahmad Khan Laghari Minister for Telecom & I.T, Mr. Mushtaq Ali Cheema Minister for Textile, Mr. Jehangir Khan Tareen Minister for Industries, Dr. Salman Shah Advisor for Finance, Mr. Umar Ahmad Ghumman MOS for Privatisation & Investment, Mr. Hamid Yar Hiraj MOS Commerce and Mr. Umar Ayub MOS Finance.