ISLAMABAD: The overseas Pakistanis have so far contributed around Rs.1billion to ‘The Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Prime Minister ofPakistan Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand Dams Fund’, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)data reveals.
According to the SBP, as of December 06, around Rs 8.46 billion have so farbeen deposited by the local as well as expatriate Pakistanis to support theconstruction of dams since July 6. Of total donations, Rs 0.99 billion wasdonated by the expatriates, while the local Pakistani individuals andinstitutions gave away Rs 7.47 billion.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, who took the initiative of fundcollection, launched the fund on July 6 which was later joined by PrimeMinister Imran Khan, making it joint venture to overcome the country”swater scarcity.
The overseas Pakistanis were passionately contributing to the nationalcause after the prime minister appealed to the estimated nine millionoverseas Pakistanis, particularly those living in European countries andthe United States, to contribute at least $1,000 per head to the noblecause, and warned that Pakistan could face famine-like conditions by 2025if new water reservoirs were not built now.
He also asked Pakistanis for generous donations.
The CJP also visited UK for fundraiser to avert the looming threat whichmay invite drought in Pakistan in coming years.
Around $14 billion is required for the construction of the Diamer Bhashadam.
Within Pakistan, the contributions were made through cheques, cash andmobile phone message service.
An amount of Rs 125 million was received through the SMS services of thefour cellular companies operating in Pakistan.
The overseas Pakistanis transmitted their donations through debit andcredit cards and in the SBP Nostro account and commercial banks overseas.
Most of the foreign donations came from Pakistanis living in the UnitedStates which is around around Rs 362 million while those in Britain gavearound Rs 214 million.
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*Pakistanis in Canada donated Rs 107 million.*
Other major donations were made by overseas Pakistanis residing in SaudiArabia and Qatar (around Rs40 million each), Switzerland (Rs 32 million),United Arab Emirates 65 million and others.
The overseas Pakistanis living in several other countries also madecontributions.
These states include; Afghanistan, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh,Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, China, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, Fiji,India, Ireland, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Malaysia, Netherland,New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Russia, South Korea,South Africa, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Thailand and Tunisia.
When contacted to the Special Assistant to Prime Minister Syed ZulfikarAbbas Bukhari, he expressed pride over Pakistani diaspora working abroad toserve Pakistan and said, they always came forward to support the country intough times.
He said the confidence of the overseas Pakistanis boosted after PrimeMinister Imran Khan assured them for their maximum facilitation.
The SAPM announced constitution of overseas Pakistanis Associates Committeewhich would be mandated to raise fund till the completion of dams.
He pledged to bring in more fund from upcoming fundraisers he is scheduledto attend abroad.
