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COAS cancels Independence Day celebrations
COAS Kayani cancelled the military celebrations of August 14 so the funds can be used for flood relief instead.
General Kayani cancelled the celebrations so the funds can be used for flood relief instead. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Thursday cancelled the military celebrations of August 14 and September 6 this year and said the savings will be utilised for flood relief activities.
A special Corps Commanders’ Conference was held at General Headquarters to review flood situation in the Country and ongoing relief and rescue activities by the Army.
According to ISPR, Participants took comprehensive overview of the flood situation and ongoing relief and rescue operations by the Army.
The COAS directed the formations to continue reaching out to the marooned people and emphasised that the dearth of resources must be overcome through personal sacrifices and smart management.
He appreciated the efforts of all field formations and Army Aviation in-particular. He stated that Army will continue to work round the clock and at full capacity to assist the civil administration and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in providing relief to the affected countrymen.
US helicopters arrive for flood relief
Meanwhile, two US Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters arrived in Pakistan on Thursday as part of the continued US humanitarian assistance.
The two aircraft were the first of 19 helicopters urgently ordered to Pakistan yesterday by US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. The incoming aircrafts flew into Pakistan Thursday from aboard the USS Peleliu, which is positioned in international waters in the Arabian Sea.
The remaining aircraft will arrive over the next few days. The US helicopters will operate in partnership with the Pakistan military throughout the country’s flood-affected areas.
“As we did during the tragedy of the 2005 earthquake, we continue to stand by the Pakistani people during this crisis,” said US Central Command Commander Gen James N Mattis. “Pakistan is our friend and ally, and in their time of need, we are committed to partnering with their government and military to support their efforts to bring relief to the millions of Pakistanis impacted by these floods.”
More aid needed
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) delivered a consignment of 17,000 blankets and 1,153 rolls of plastic sheet to the flood affected areas of Punjab and Sindh.
Shelter quality plastic sheet, which is in short supply in Pakistan, is desperately needed by an estimated 300,000 families whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by the floods.
The Multan hub will take deliveries of shelter and other relief goods shipped in by road and air and dispatch them to the worst flood-affected areas and it will join existing hubs in Islamabad and Peshawar.
An additional shelter hub will open in Sukkur in Sindh later this week.
IOM Islamabad also took delivery of 9,000 shelter kits comprising plastic sheet, poles and ropes donated by the UK Department of International Development (DFID). ]
IOM expects to take delivery and distribution of another 1,000 tents, 24,000 buckets and 48,600 blankets donated by DFID in the course of this week.
China may increase aid
China said it may increase its 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) flood relief assistance to Pakistan as the United Nations called for global donations of $460 million.
“China is willing to actively consider increasing assistance based on Pakistan’s needs,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jiang Yu said in a statement.
Last week, China flew in aid on military transports, including generators, medicine and water-purification equipment. The Chinese Red Cross has also given $50,000 in cash. The amount pledged so far by China is less than the $4.4 million it gave for Haiti’s earthquake relief earlier this year, reported Bloomberg.
“In general, China tends not to be particularly generous with economic assistance,” said Teresita Schaffer, director of the South Asia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington and a former top US diplomat for the region.
“Their involvement in Pakistan has been long on political support and visible assistance to a handful of very high profile projects carried out with Chinese labour, so the Pakistanis didn’t even get any employment benefits out of it,” Schaffer said.
Reader Comments (35)
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Gen. Kiyani did the right thing. As a Civilian, I endorse his views.Recommend
Good job General sahaab. Now that is what I call austerity and sincerity. Only if the corrupt government, I meant current government could follow your footsteps.Recommend
I would have expected a more generous response from Pakistan’s AWF(China).So it is now eminently clear that when the chips are down it is the West led by America which provides the bulk of the aid and the means to deliver.However I’am certain if the average Pakistani was asked about US aid they would probably still reply it was China which was the main aid providing country.So much for gratitude!.Recommend
Great job COAS . U seem to be the man in command :)Recommend
Its all good, the aid we are receiving, the support of the citizens and officials but the thing bothering to most of the affected people, is their uncertain tomorrow.
All the activities are being done for time being , taking the fettle’s in control. Of course, the victims are not going to live in tents, get food from others for the rest of their lives.
Some good decisions need to make to rehabilitate them properly, so they can actually be capable enough to recover and lead their tomorrow on their own. Today is the merely time they could be settled simultaneously, as tomorrow never comes.Recommend
Kudos to general K.I hope this inspires all of us to rise to the occasion. I have heard reports from friends in Sukkur that the situation is unimagineable. Children up to the age of 12 are roaming around naked because they have no clothes. People are sleeping in makeshift tents with what is left of their livestock in the same tent. Imagine the smell and misery. Its almost choking me with guilt.Recommend
Hats off to the COAS. A TRUE Pakistani patriot. The Army has produced more sincere Pakistanis than any other segment of our society.Recommend
General Kayani has show good gesture by cancelling celebrations of 14 Aug and 7 Sep and donating the savings to relief fund, He has not disclosed what amount was expected to be spent on these celebrations.
Gangly KhanRecommend
This a very good thing which General Kyani did. I am pleased to hear about this……wElLdOnERecommend
Good work by a good man… we the awam and the politicians should learn something atleast, I feel we are turning into a dead nation “Murda Quam” I can still see fashion shows going on musicaL concerts and parties taking place in Karachi while the country is in pain even the despite the blood shed in the city itself… its like if its not coming to my house atleast I am safe… shame on us as a nation we have failed… GOOD WORK KIYANI SAHAB you are some one we can look upto.
“DEMOCRACY IS THE BEST REVENGE…
yeah, AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN!!!”Recommend
Why is it that the military always makes the government look like a bunch of idiots?Recommend
Our Country Need this spirit & patriotism in our every Leaders,but unfortunately it doesn’t!!! We have proud on our Pak Army…Recommend
Issues aside,its a wise gesture.Somebody is thinking in our country!!
People having weddings and parties should take their cue from this.Recommend
i am happy to hear this new well done parwais k we proud of you dont shake hand with govt of pakistanRecommend
Remind me why we oppose military rule?Recommend
A wise move by the chief! on behalf of the people of Pakistan i salute the Pakistan Army .We stand by you..Pakistan Zindabad!Recommend
The independence day in 2010 should be observed by the people with deep concerns of the ideology and presently helping the flood victems.Recommend
Its a good gesture by Army, but why not other walks of life. Why is our government only busy in banning the media because of shoe hurling. And I also agree with Usman…. China …Our so called best friend giving 1.5m $ (even a peanut is bigger than it). Our nation should understand thaat China is good friend but hard fact is that they have done nothing to Pakistan except flooding our markets with cheap subsidized stuff and ruining our ceramic,toy, shoe, garment and other industries. While USA may be bad but they are biggest share holder of pakistani exports.China does not import even a pin from pakistan. Wise people can make by just having a look on our export deficit with China…Recommend
President Zardari has realized COAS that we are not independent anymore.Recommend
Rightly done! In fact all Government (civil and Military) celebrations should be banned for the next ten years and the savings used for building schools, hospitals, roads. We have celebrated enough on borrowed money and now we are facing the music. Qarz ki peetay thaiy may aur ketay thaiy ke haan, Rang laiagi hamari faqa masti aik din.Recommend
General saheb is a wise man indeed. And good at politics.
Good move.Recommend
Good job!!Recommend
So the clowns wont be giving performance in the circus called PakistanRecommend
Well done General Kayani, thank you sir!
I think we, as a nation, should take this a step further and stop wasting resources on exhibits of pseudo pomp and show. The money can be used to help save the lives of the flood victims this year. Next year we can invest the resources towards building their livelihoods and getting them back on towards some sense of normality. Once that is established we should spend these resources on power projects, schools, universities, hospitals and so forth.
National celebrations have their role in cementing nations, but its when we learn to celebrate the spirit of helping each other as a nation, that we would truly become independent.Recommend
No doubt,
this institution is more powerful than all the institutions in Pakistan.
Pakistani armed forces is armed with nuclear weapons and under the able leadership of experienced generals now dealing with insurgents
successfully.
The day will come our armed forces finished all insurgency from every corner of the country.
We should pray to God we pass through the present flood crisis and save the people stranded in surging tide of water infested with
snakes.Recommend
Gen. Kayani should step in, and remove these bigots out of the parliament, once and for all.
I am all for dictator like Kayani then a democratic govt of these fools.Recommend
good move.. next move to take over the govt…. they are unable to run the Pakistan..Recommend
I am disagree,absolutely disagree,
democracy is one hundred time better than dictatorship.
here is bright example of United States and the United Kingdom
they are front lime countries in the world.Recommend
A sensible decision indeed. However, over the years it’s been proven that the military is no better than the so-called democratic govts in Pakistan, once in power. Unfortunately, we focus on changing faces rather than changing the system or strengthening the system. We need a strong judiciary, a democratic or whichever system which is not so easy to mould to satisfy the head of state’s personal needs or in the current situation questionable desires.
As far as China or the US aid is concerned. I just hope the big sharks of the world economy let Pakistan progress in the first place, so we can be self-sufficient in calamities like these. The US, like the earthquake in Pakistan, has once again sent its helicopters later than they were needed the most. Why does it take weeks for a country to send us help who does not hesitate (or should I say feels it’s right) to ask for favours from us?Recommend
That’s a very wise step taken by Gen.Kayani.
reflects the true spirit os a ideal Pakistani.
@ Sultan Ahmed
Rules which are good for a certain group of people, might be desasterous for the other.
Likewise, u can compare Obama wid Zardazi, or can you?Recommend
@ shah sawaar,
Please let the time passe,
the day will come,nation come to the real point
then you see there will be no such ruler
as you have described in your comments,thanks.Recommend
We should consider,
who is on front in providing relief goods
and other materials that is the dire need of the time
dollars, helicopters, workers,and related equipments,
you will find United States in the front line and afraid.
On the other hand,
when you read the statement
of president Obama given by him in ramadan function
celebrated yesterday,
it would compelled you to think,
circumstances are going to take turn
which is moving toward right direction.
Really America has been changed
under the leadership of president Barack Obama.Recommend
COAS is really such a great human being………he is far better than our president.Recommend
I am damn sure..If the Army takes over the present government, none of the Pakistani national will come out into the streets…Recommend
@ Sultan Ahmed
Inshallah!Recommend