Daily Times

Overseas Pakistanis have so far contributed around Rs 1 billion to The Supreme Court & the Prime Minister Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand Dams Fund, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data revealed on Monday.

According to the SBP, as of Thursday, around Rs 8.46 billion have been deposited by locals as well as expatriate Pakistanis to support the construction of dams since July 6. Of total donations, Rs 0.99 billion was donated by expatriates, while the local Pakistani individuals and institutions gave Rs 7.47 billion.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, who took the initiative of fund collection, launched the fund on July 6 which was later joined by Prime Minister Imran Khan, making it a joint venture to overcome the country’s water scarcity.

Overseas Pakistanis were passionately contributing to the national cause after PM Imran Khan appealed to the estimated nine million overseas Pakistanis, particularly those living in European countries and the United States, to contribute at least $1,000 per head to the noble cause and warned that Pakistan could face famine-like conditions by 2025 if new water reservoirs were not built now.

He also asked Pakistanis for generous donations.

The chief justice also visited the United Kingdom for a fundraiser to avert the looming threat which may invite drought in Pakistan in coming years.

Around $14 billion is required for the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam.

Within Pakistan, the contributions were made through cheques, cash and mobile phone message service.

An amount of Rs 125 million was received through short message services of the four cellular companies operating in Pakistan.

Overseas Pakistanis transmitted their donations through debit and credit cards and in the SBP Nostro account and commercial banks overseas.

Most of the foreign donations came from Pakistanis living in the US which is around Rs 362 million while those in Britain gave around Rs 214 million.

Pakistanis in Canada donated Rs 107 million.

Other major donations were made by overseas Pakistanis residing in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates Rs 65 million and others.

Overseas Pakistanis living in several other countries also made contributions.

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, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Syed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari expressed pride over Pakistani diaspora working abroad to serve Pakistan and said they always came forward to support the country in tough times.

He said the confidence of the overseas Pakistanis boosted after the prime minister assured them for their maximum facilitation.

Zulfi Bukhari announced constitution of overseas Pakistanis Associates Committee which would be mandated to raise fund till the completion of dams.

He pledged to bring in more fund from upcoming fundraisers he is scheduled to attend abroad.

Published in Daily Times, December 11^th 2018.