Islamabad: Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) and Alkhidmat Foundation have joined hands to help alleviate the miseries of the flood-affectees in these times of crises of unprecedented proportions. P@SHA member companies have collectively donated 15 million to Alkhidmat Foundation and more contributions are on their way. As a responsible association determined to contribute to prosperity of Pakistan, P@SHA initiated the relief drill to help fellow Pakistanis in need.
Alkhidmat Foundation will ensure delivery of aid & sustenance goods on the ground in a transparent, meticulous and diligent manner. These goods include water-proof tents; linen sheets; clean drinking water; dry eatables, e.g. ready-to-eat black channa, dates & biscuits; packaged milk & juices; formula milk powder for children of various ages; stitched or ready-to-wear clothes; plastic shoes; hygiene products; raw food items such as rice, flour and lentils for people stuck in homes due to flooding outside; medical supplies for elderly, sick, mothers & children and dry fodder for the cattle as well.
Chairman Badar Khushnood said that “P@SHA issued an appeal two weeks back to its member companies to donate generously and contribute actively in this need of the hour; which has rendered millions of families displaced as one-third of Pakistan is drowned due to the floods and have lost shelter. Additionally, there are over half a million pregnant women in addition to 2 million children in the need of the baby food. The elderly, sick, expecting mothers and children need immediate medical attention and humanitarian support.”
Secretary General Hira Zainab added that “the floods during this year have been devastating. At P@SHA, we felt our responsibility to bring together the IT industry to play our small part. We brought credible NGOs as partners and also encouraged IT companies to engage in flood relief activities on their own. We are thankful to all industry leaders, who came forward and have donated over 15 million so far. We consider this as the beginning of the CSR activities that P@SHA will be undertaking with the help of the IT industry for flood-affectees.”
P@SHA’s initial estimate was to generate 10 million, but on the back of generous support, empathetic and humanitarian response from IT companies, it is now hopeful that the donations may cross as much as 50 million.