Sandy aftermath: Pak diplomat visits flood-hit areas of NY

WASHINGTON:

The Consul General of Pakistan in New York, Faqir Syed Asif Hussain, on the instructions of Ambassador Sherry Rehman, visited the worst affected areas in the States of New York and New Jersey to inquire after the welfare of Pakistani Americans affected by the Hurricane, said a press released of the Embassy of Pakistan on Saturday.

The consul general visited the Bay Side shelter, which has been set up in a Coney Island school.

The shelter is temporarily housing over 200 Pakistanis who had to evacuate their homes and move to safer locations. He remained with them for more than an hour.

He appreciated the efforts of community leaders and organisations, particularly the American Council of Minority Women, for their humanitarian work.

The consul general is coordinating with local community leaders for food and other necessities to affected Pakistanis. Earlier, he also visited some areas of Bronx and Queens Boroughs.

As the US Government continues its restoration efforts, the Pakistan Embassy DC and Consulate in New York, under the guidance of Chargé d’Affaires Dr Asad M Khan, remain dedicated to facilitating Pakistani expatriates.

In this regard the emergency hotline set up last week in the Consulate and notified to the public to help Pakistanis get in touch with their relatives impacted by the hurricane is still in place and active.

The numbers for the two lines are 212-472-6807 and 212-472-4345. Scores of calls and emails have been received and responded to by the Embassy and the Consulate and the concerned officers in New York continue to do so.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2012.