OICCI members’ donations exceed Rs1.69b

The OICCI asserts that its contributions for flood relief activities exceed Rs1.69 billion.

KARACHI: The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) has asserted that contributions for flood relief activities by members of the chamber have exceeded Rs1.69 billion. “Donations are still flowing in and the cumulative amount is expected to cross Rs2 billion in coming days,” said OICCI spokesperson, Abdur Rahman.

An official release cited that 26 per cent of this amount was contributed by the parent companies overseas while 71 per cent was donated by member companies in Pakistan. The remaining three per cent came through staff contributions.

According to the notification, Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited (Mobilink), Unilever Pakistan Limited and BP Pakistan Exploration & Production Incorporated have so far been the highest contributors with donations of Rs236 million, Rs128 million and Rs113 million, respectively.

Need to reassess disaster management

Meanwhile, the OICCI has stressed the need to overhaul the national disaster management framework. “Pakistan needs to reassess its disaster management framework,” said Ameena Saiyid, president of the chamber, during a press conference here on Monday.

“The National Oversight Disaster Management Council intends to put in place a proper system of accountability and monitoring at the national level to ensure the transparent use of flood assistance,” she hoped.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2010.