Aisam-ul-Haq announces US$10,000 donation for flood affectees

United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) National Goodwill Ambassador for Early Recovery and international tennis star, Aisam ul Haq announced a donation of USD 10,000 for flood Early Recovery activities in Pakistan. The donation comes from the Haq Foundation and through funds contributed by the ATP World Tour USA - the professional regulatory body of the game of tennis.

Aisam made this announcement on a visit to Mazdoor Village, Tehsil Jati, District Thatta where UNDP is engaged in a village rehabilitation project for flood affectees. This village was completely destroyed by the floods of 2010 after which UNDP is supporting the reconstruction of 198 houses, installation of solar powered street lights, rehabilitation of community infrastructure, and livelihoods and vocational training for females.

This is the second such donation through Aisam ul Haq. Earlier, international tennis champions Bryan Brothers contributed USD 10,000 through which 9 houses were built in Bagho Teweno in the Dadu District.

UNDP is working across 22 worst-affected districts by restoring livelihoods through job creation, repairing basic community infrastructures and services, and strengthening local government offices to get public services running again. An estimated 915,000 people will be benefiting across 700 villages through UNDP’s interventions.

Aisam was accompanied by the UNDP Pakistan Country Director Toshihiro Tanaka and other officials from the UN development agency as well as local implementing partner representatives from Health and Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) which is one of UNDP’s partners in the Early Recovery project.

Addressing a community gathering and handing over keys to newly-built houses Aisam said “I’m deeply impressed by the resilience and self-help spirit of the community. I am delighted to be here and to see the joy returning to the people’s face as I hand over the keys to their houses.”  Toshihiro said, “Restoring livelihoods and hope of the people from the devastation of the floods requires concerted efforts of everyone for sustained period. We are grateful to Aisam for his support to the people affected by the floods and for being a role model for every one of us, particularly, young people, to follow.”