DOMESTIC FUNDING FOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF CROSSES RS.4.539 BILLION BY 160 CONTRIBUTORS IN FIVE DAYS- Hafeez Shaikh

Islamabad, October 15, 2005

The Cabinet Committee on Fund Raising from Business Community for Earthquake Relief has increased from Rs.3.3 billion to Rs.4.539 billion for the President of Pakistan Relief Fund during the last five 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 over 900 business chambers, associations, overseas Pakistanis and Pakistani Missions approached during the past four days by the Cabinet Committee secretariat would further increase the volume of donations. So far 160 have contributed while others were in the process to handover their contributions.

Giving the breakup of the funding Dr. Hafeez Shaikh informed that Rs.3, 761.44 million has been raised for the President's Fund, Rs. 70.7 million to other relief funds and contributions in kind worth Rs. 707.33 million. The Minister has requested the donors to indicate the worth of goods at the time of their handing over, as most of the people did not indicate the value of the goods.

Dr. Shaikh further stated that OICCI member companies have so far contributed Rs.810 million while members of American Business Council has contributed to the tune of Rs. One Billion.

Dr. Hafeez Shaikh appealed to the business groups not to delay their contributions towards the President's Relief Fund to overcome the miseries of the devastating earthquake victims as the time was the main essence in this national task. The appeal for fund raising has so far received very quick and warm response from the business community, he remarked.

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.