Donor’s Conference 2005: Will It Help?
On November 19, 2005, 300 delegates from 60 states, agencies and corporates are attending an International Donors’ Conference in Convention Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan to participate in fund raising attempt for the relief and rehabiliation of the earthquake victims.
Pakistani government is expecting that international community will extend maximum grants and soft loans to meet at least $3.5 billion reconstruction cost.
Major donors, including multilateral agencies, are expected to pledge contributions primarily in grants and soft loans that will set the tone for individual countries and aid agencies to come up with donations once the conference is over.
But most of the donors will first like to see what the government has pledged for the reconstruction and rehabilitation and then make up their mind for the contribution. They expect Pakistan to commit about $1 billion through re-appropriation of its major budgetary allocations to make an honourable way of attracting others to contribute.
According to DAWN, donors expect Pakistan to re-appropriate its development allocations for Azad Kashmir and the NWFP to the tune of Rs20-25 billion over a period of three to four years by restricting the defence budget at the level of budgetary allocations, which are normally scaled up every year beyond original allocations.
Sources said Pakistan was expected to get about $1 billion in grants given the fact that the World Bank has endorsed the $5.2 billion damage assessment as fair and realistic.
This will give credibility to the assessment and an encouragement to bilateral donors. The World Bank has already committed to provide about $415 million in soft term financing in addition to about $60 million reallocation of its existing programmes.
Pakistan’s case for international assistance has also been supported by the two super powers, the US and the UK. Turkey is expected to remain on top with its aid whereas Arab countries are expected to make sizable contribution both in cash and oil, according to sources.
The Asian Development Bank will announce its support to the government’s reconstruction plans, including setting up of over $300 million Pakistan Earthquake Fund to be partially funded by its member countries.
The UK was expected to announce over a $120 million in grant, the sources said.
On a personal note, it is ironical that the government has not shown any sacrifice from it’s part. No cuts in lavish ‘entertainment’ and protocol budgets, no reduction in overseas trips and no downsizing in the flock of advisors and consultants.
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November 19th, 2005 at 3:15 pm
Respected Sir,
Our Association, a registered voluntary social organization and a Rehabilitation Centre, is engaged in alleviating the problems and difficulties of the people with disabilities, established in 1975 and is being run by the handicapped themselves.
A.P.H.A. has been making artificial limbs/foot on the best rubber foot technology of Jaipur India, which is famous in the world, and we have so far provided to hundreds of amputees towards their rehabilitation.
However, A.P.H.A. is very much interested in collecting complete data of the disabilities of earthquake victims so that A.P.H.A. could enhance its production of artificial limbs and provide free of cost to a maximum number of the disabled who have become the victims of the recent earthquake.
In view of the following four points, A.P.H.A. teams & volunteers including Foot Technicians wish to come to Islamabad and Rawalpindi to serve this noble cause and for which A.P.H.A. needs your support.
Looking forward to a positive response curiously.
Thanks & Regards,
Khalid Hameed
Hon,Managing Committee Member.
Association of the Physically Handicapped Adult (A.P.H.A)
ST-2, Block - 16, Scheme # 36, Gulistan-e-Juhar.
Cell No. 0345 – 2291053. (Mahmood Hussain Musani) Hon, Vice President.
Tel # 021- 4611974(S.M.Nishat) Hon, General Secretary.
Tel # 021- 6951665 (Khalid Hameed)
Fax # 021 – 6909295. (Attn: Khalid Hameed)
E-mail: khalidduke@hotmail.com
CC: apha_1975@yahoo.com
December 7th, 2005 at 7:41 pm
Subject: Rehabilitation of At Least One Affected Family
Project PEACE Welfare Society is pleased to submit this request for your review. We look forward to your partnership in our cooperative efforts to provide rehabilitation to at least one Earthquake affected family of 5 members. You can save 5 lives by just spending $2100 or as much as you can or anything else.
Our proposal requests $2100 for rehabilitation of one affected family. This program will give the affecties a new hope towards life. Imagine their all has gone and they are now with raw hands, so if your donation will make them to live again, then it would be a noblest help towards whole humanity. Helping one person means helping whole community, said by our Holy Prophet (PBUH). Your donation will make them some how stable towards this difficult life. They have lost the hope now, so your donation will be a sparkling sunshine for them. This program will be in name of you.
• Your donation will serve to save the lives of remaining people.
• Your donation will make them stable to some extend.
• Every penny you donate, will give them motivation towards life.
• Your donation will save them from disaster after disaster.
• Your donation will save them from cold, diseases and bad weather.
Since the earth quake, Project PEACE has successfully provided emergency relief. It has sent HR support to Northern areas of Pakistan. Our workers and hired medical officers have served the victims with their best. Although Project PEACE is peace creator and maintainer but earthquake is a natural disaster and man can do nothing as precautionary measures, but man can help others and save lives. The role of Project PEACE at Margalla Tower’s disaster is also appreciating. Our team workers, worked day and night voluntarily. They have also given medical assistance at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Capital hospital, Islamabad. We supplied shelter and food to the affected, first medical aid and ambulances, and manpower and technical assistance for rescue operations. We have collected funds and things of daily use and make them available for the victims at North of Pakistan. The victims have been provided with bedding and personal hygiene items.
• Sent things worth of 1000$ to the North of Pakistan.
• We know the best way to rehabilitate the affected one.
• We have collaboration with Govt of Pakistan also.
Thank you for your interest in Project PEACE. We envision building upon our collaborative success by developing such programs that enable these helpless individuals to become self reliant.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tariq Niazi
Adviser