Overseas Pakistanis send funds for dams

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan asked overseas Pakistanis to contribute to a fund dedicated to building the Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dams to combat the massive water shortage the country is facing and large contributions have started to roll in.

Expatriate Pakistanis and celebrities alike have pledged to contribute to the cause with more than Rs2 billion (Dh 59,708,223) already collected according to the State Bank of Pakistan.

Renowned vocalist Atif Aslam has donated Rs2.5 million. He met Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar on Sunday and presented him the cheque, according to Pakistani newspaper, The Express Tribune.

Moving fast

Prominent journalist Hamid Mir @HamidMirPAK also posted about his and former musician and Pakistan Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) supporter, Salman Ahmad’s contributions: “Dam fund moving fast: I contributed one million rupees in dam fund and @sufisal surprised us with the announcement of 100,000 USD for the fund then directors of GNN Zulqarnain Nawaz Chattha and Zubair Nawaz Chattha announced 5 crores for dam fund.”

Pakistani actress Meera, said that she has given Rs25,000 towards the fund.

The country’s military has also contributed to the cause. On Monday, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa called on Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar and presented a cheque of Rs1 billion to the latter.

Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa called on Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar in Islamabad and presented him a cheque for over Rs1 billion as donation.