South Asian right activists collect funds
LAHORE: A delegation of South Asian rights activists joined the Labour Relief Campaign on The Mall on Monday to collect donations from the Lahorites for the flood-hit people of Pakistan.
Comprising Nepal parliament member Sita Kumari Pondel, Nepal NGOs Foundation president Sharmila Kerki, Bangladesh human rights activist Faisal Bin Majid, Sri Lanka peace activist Nalini Ratnarrajah and other delegation members collected funds from motorists and pedestrians at the Regal Chowk.
Ms Pondel told journalists at the camp that the devastation caused by floods had been a matter of grave concern for her countrymen. “It not only concerns the South Asia but the whole world. I will take up the matter with my colleagues in Nepal parliament that our government should announce symbolic aid to Pakistan on the pattern of India,” said Ms Pondel, who heads the women wing of UML, the Communist party of Nepal.
Mr Majid said that Bangladesh had to face floods almost every monsoon. “A discussion is under way in my country that we should offer the services of experts to Pakistan who can play a pivotal role in floods management here.”
Ms Ratnarrajah said that all members of the delegation would launch fund-raising campaigns in their countries for flood victims of Pakistan.
A sum of Rs13,500 was collected by the South Asian activists during their one-and-a-half hours stay on The Mall, according to Labour Party Pakistan spokesperson Farooq Tariq.
DONATIONS:
The Atlas Group, its affiliates and associates have donated more than Rs40 million to the disaster relief. Another 10 million yen have been donated by group’s longstanding partners, Honda Motor Company, through the Pakistan embassy in Tokyo, says a press release.
Source: Dawn
Date:8/24/2010
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