Charity begins at home

Hadiqa Kiani, Ali Zafar, Mona Liza, Salman Ahmed, Abrarul Haq and Javed Ahmed are vocal about the need to donate.

From comments posted on social networking sites to personal interviews, Pakistani celebrities have been urging fans to donate to those affected by floods in Pakistan. Hadiqa Kiani, Ali Zafar, Mona Liza, Salman Ahmed, Kashif Mehmood, Abrarul Haq and Javed Ahmed have been vocal about the need to donate, but there has been little news of what they have been doing practically.

While an actor, musician or designer’s job is not to fundraise, in times of crises, celebrities have often risen to help. The Haiti earthquake brought forth a slew of celebrities who participated in telethons and raised money. Actors such as Jennifer Aniston, Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie chipped in millions of dollars for the rehabilitation of the earthquake victims.

Nashville was hit by floods three months ago, but Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift are still raising funds for the Tennessee city.

The Express Tribune spoke to Pakistani celebrities about their plans to fundraise for flood victims

Faisal Kapadia - Musician

On a personal level, everybody is trying to do something or the other but as musicians we are planning to do several things. For one, we can just do concerts, but this is Ramazan. We are certainly planning to do something soon.

Shafqat Amanat Ali - Musician

I have contributed clothes, medicines and dry food and have donated cash, not a very big amount but a small token to the flood victims.

Joshinder Chaggar (choreographer) and Khalid Malik (actor)

We made a lot of cartons of food and sent it with our friends to Shikarpur.

Shallum Xavier - Musician

I’m planning to do a series of events including concerts. We even plan to go to the flood-affected areas and make our physical presence felt.

Shahla Rahman - Designer

My brother and I are involved in providing food to the people in a camp in Karachi which houses people who have come here from Sukkar.

Saffia Beyg - Musician

My organisation Sampurna has given Rs10,000 to the Raast Welfare Society and an Indian classical dancer Sundeep Mahiveer has volunteered to come to Karachi and perform for the flood victims.

Syed Rizwanullah -  Designer

A group of my friends and I visit the immediate neighbourhood and collect money. We then hand in whatever we have collected to an army collection unit, which is located near the Karachi airport. The Pakistan Army is doing a lot in this regard.

Tia Noon - Designer

Kamiar Rokni and I are on the board of a charity called Pakistan Rising. The organisation is doing a lot for the flood victims. In a personal capacity, my family and I are involved in helping people from the Rahim Yar Khan area, which we belong to.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2010.