Initiating the support for flood affectees in the country, the Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) on Monday established the ‘Flood Relief Fund’ with an initial amount of Rs12 million in this regard.  

PIAF Chairman Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol, addressing the hurriedly-called meeting of the PIAF Executive Committee, said that the aim of establishing the fund was to extend support to the victims who were in dire need of help. He said the members initiated donating liberally and by the grace of God, an amount of Rs12 million is assembled in just a single day. He further said after negotiations with other members of PIAF the decision was took the noble initiative to help the poor in their testing times. 

Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol said that the PIAF would continue to fulfill its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as it has the understanding that the government alone cannot cope with the mass devastation caused by the flood. 

The chairman said that the PIAF has always played its role at all testing times and credit goes to its members who gave maximum for the help of the deprived. 

He said that business community has to perform an extraordinary role as the situation has become too grave to be handled by the government alone. 

He appealed the whole business community to show generosity to­wards their flood-hit families. He said that the business community had to per­form an extraordinary role as the situation had become too grave to be handled by the govern­ment and other depart­ments alone.  

He said that in past, the PIAF had also given donations of million rupees for earthquake and flood victims. He said that the PIAF played a vital role at all testing times and credit goes to the members who gave maximum for the help of their deprived brothers and sisters.  

He asked the government to form a comprehensive strategic plan to tackle flood waves in future, as the floods would have severe consequences on the already fragile economy of the country and inflation. 

He said that the businessmen are with the flood-affected people in their dire need for rescue, relief and rehabilitation, appealing the entire nation, overseas Pakistanis, and the international community to come forward to aid those affected by the present floods in the country. 

He said that there will be shortages of farm produce and their prices will sky-rocket. He said that the business community, who had already displayed remarkable philanthropic spirit in the past, should come forward once again and contribute generously in cash and kind to support the rescue and relief efforts of the government and other relevant organizations. 

He called upon all governments and institutions, NGOs and volunteers to offer their expertise and leadership to rescue, evacuate, and rehabilitate the affectees by providing them shelter, food and medical facilities.