RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government on Tuesday requested the business community of the garrison city to come forward and play its role in collecting donations for internally displaced persons (IDPs) from North Waziristan.
In this regard, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi and local administration officials visited Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) to convey the government’s message.
During the meeting, Hanif Abbasi noted that the RCCI has always played a positive role at the time of need, such as the earthquake, floods, the Raja Bazaar crisis or the concern of business community about the metro bus project.
He said the Pakistan Army was fighting to save the future generations of our country.
“It is our responsibility to also work for the IDPs and support them,” he said.
He informed the business community that the Punjab chief minister has made a committee to collect funds for the IDPs and RCCI president is a part of it.
This also shows that the government really trusts Rawalpindi chamber.
He said that the main agenda of the meeting was to generate fund for those who had left their city due to ongoing war against terrorism and to help save the future of millions of people.
“The district government has given the RCCI the task to collect funds and transfer them to the chief minister’s relief fund,” he said.
In order to transfer the relief money to the IDPs, Abbasi said the provincial government will utilise the system used by the federal government and will get help of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).
“Apart from providing food items and goods of daily use, money in form of cash will also be given to the IDPs,” he added.
RCCI President Dr Shimail Daud said the Rawalpindi chamber was always ready to help the Punjab government and IDPs. “The chamber will try its best to collect maximum funds for the IDPs,” he added.
Published in Dawn, July 9th , 2014