Over Rs3.5 billion donated to Corona Relief Fund

PM’s focal person says disbursement of fund among deserving people to start soon

More than Rs3.5 billion has so far been donated to the Prime Minister Corona Relief Fund to help the people affected by lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Corona Philanthropy Drive Khurshid Alam said on Wednesday.

Speaking in a programme of Radio Pakistan, Alam said that the people from all walks of life, government departments, private organisations and philanthropists were contributing to the fund. He added that the prime minister would soon announce start of disbursement of the fund among the deserving people.

“The prime minister wants collection of about Rs20 billion at the initial stage to better help the people, whose employments have been affected because of lockdown,” he said, adding that a database would be prepared on the pattern of Ehsaas Programme to identify the deserving people.

“We have the target to reach non-registered workers. Even the people who had been earning up to Rs35,000 per month and their employments have been affected will be financially supported through the fund,” Alam said.

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Alam said that every Pakistani could donate Rs20 to the fund by sending a blank SMS at 6677, while mobile phone companies would add a matching amount against every message. “The government will contribute to the Fund by four times against the amount received in the fund,” he added.

Responding to a question, Alam said that not a single penny from government funds was being spent on the publicity campaign for the Corona Relief Fund. Various organisations have been requested to make message about the relief fund a part of their advertisements, he added.