Diplomat to be guest at dinner

From the archive, first published Friday 10th Feb 2006.

The Pakistani High Commissioner will speak at a dinner in Bradford to boost fundraising efforts for survivors of the South Asian earthquake.

Dr Maleeha Lodhi, who heads the High Commission for Pakistan in London and four consulates in Bradford, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow, will be the guest speaker at the dinner being organised by the Pakistan Society of West Yorkshire at Valley Parade on February 25.

Rashid Awan, president of the Pakistan Society of West Yorkshire, said: "The main objective of the dinner is to create awareness among people so they continue to support and raise funds over the coming years.

"The rehabilitation and construction process is now under way and will take years.

"We are asking for people's continued support, through a standing order, for example, so that money goes regularly towards the disaster fund.

"We will be asking Dr Lodhi to tell us what has been done so far and how people can help with the future strategy.

"In Bradford in particular people have been very generous and collected many millions of pounds. We would like to pay tribute to the people who have worked very hard and raised a huge amount of money in such a short space of time.

"We want to remind people that the problems have not gone away and we want to keep up the momentum for the next few years.''

Guests will hear more about how they can donate money to help survivors and monitor the progress of projects through a website: www.earthquakepakistan.com.

Donors can chose from a number of projects which need funding such as rebuilding schools and health facilities and monitor the progress of each venture through the website.

The Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David James, West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn and the Pakistani Consul in Bradford, Ayaz Hussain, will also be at the dinner.

Mr Hussain said: "People have been donating very generously for the relief and rescue mission. Proper reconstruction can not start before March because it is winter.

"At the moment just temporary shelters are being built. As soon as we get to the end of March, the full reconstruction can begin.

"Now materials are being gathered and the Pakistani Government has placed a check on construction materials to make sure they are in abundance so people will have no excuse to raise the prices.

"People still need help and the weather is a big hurdle.''

Last October's earthquake killed at least 79,000 people, with many more unaccounted for under the rubble.

Tens of thousands of people were injured and left homeless after the disaster in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province and Kashmir.

The money raised from this month's dinner will be donated to the President of Pakistan's Relief Fund.

Anyone who would like to book a table at the dinner can call Mr Awan on 07736 066959.

Archive Home