Dams fund collection exceeds Rs9 billion

islamabad — More than Rs9 billion have so far been collected for the construction of Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams under a fund set up jointly by the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister for the purpose.

Out of Rs9.132 billion collected so far, Rs7.912 billion have been generated through local resources while Rs1.22 billion were contributed by expatriate Pakistanis, according to an update on the dam fund issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

Pakistanis living in the United States remained the top donor and contributed Rs443.572 million followed by the Pakistani community living in the UK who transferred Rs234.642 million to the dams fund so far.

Similarly, the fund also received Rs132.4 million generated through the SMS service of various cellular

companies operating in Pakistan.

According to the SBP, the top 10 institutional donors included the Punjab government employees who contributed Rs1.09 billion, Pakistan army (Rs582.071 million), Bahria Town (Rs110.12 million) and PAF (Rs100.28 million).

The SBP has directed the banks not to charge any service fee, including

interchange fee, merchant discount rate, transaction fee, on donations/ payments made to the dam fund through payment cards (debit, credit or prepaid cards).

The Supreme Court chief justice established the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand Dams Fund on July 10, 2018 to raise funds for the construction of two dams. —