Why not to compare FM Bilawal’s flood donations with Imran Khan’s fundraising?
Analysts said that the PTI chairman's fundraising was his individual effort in which he raised funds for the flood affectees.
Pakistan is going through a terrible situation in the aftermath of torrential rains and floods in several parts that caused massive loss of lives, properties and crops.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan organised an international telethon a few days ago to raise funds for the flood victims across the country. The PTI chief managed to raise Rs5 billion in donations within hours.
The federal government also expedited efforts to expand rescue and relief operations besides initiating rehabilitation of the flood-affected areas.
Rs130b in donations
According to Radio Pakistan, friendly countries and international organizations have all poured in with immediate assistance to flood-hit people of Pakistan following the appeal of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. About 130 billion rupees have been collected so far from the United Nations (UN) member countries in one hour.
The United States (US) gave Rs6.5 billion, whereas, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, World Health Organization, UNICEF, Red Crescent and Red Cross also responded positively to the foreign minister’s appeal. China, Turkey, the United States, the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and other countries have also announced immediate aid.
The assistance of medicines, food items and other essential relief goods is also being provided to Pakistan by various international organizations including the UN member countries.
On the other hand, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) claimed that the party’s chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has been assured of $592 million (Rs130 billion) from United Nations member countries in a duration of one hour for the assistance of flood victims, including $160 million aid to Pakistan’s flood victims.
Some circles have started comparing the state-level donations with Imran Khan’s fundraising call. However, analysts said the comparison was inappropriate and useless which created an impression of a race for donations instead of making unified efforts for providing relief to the flood affectees.
Analysts said that the PTI chairman’s fundraising was his individual effort in which he raised funds for the flood affectees by using his popularity which could not be compared with the collection of donations at the state level.
They added that it was not the time to begin a race for popularity by taking credit for donations but make unified and selfless efforts to rehabilitate the flood-affected nationals at the earliest in a difficult time.
