Openheartedness: Malik Riaz says ready to assist 100,000 IDPs

Says private sector should help people of Waziristan.

KARACHI: Bahria Town chairman Malik Riaz Hussain on Sunday said his institution was ready to meet all the needs of 0.1 million displaced people of North Waziristan.

“The government has not allowed us to move ahead,” the multi-billionaire philanthropist told a press conference. Bahria Town will also set up model villages for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) when they return home.

“We want to do it ourselves,” he said replying to a question, why not simply donate cash to the government for helping the IDPs, “and we have shown that private sector can do better,” he added.

There must be some reasons the government is hesitant to let independent organisations serve the people of North Waziristan, he said.

Replying to a query, Malik Riaz said he was not criticising the government, he just wants the permission to move his men and machinery. “We have worked for the people affected by the earthquake, floods and the recent drought in Tharparkar,” he said. The Bahria Town dastarkhwan, literally meaning tablecloth, serves free food to over a 100,000 people daily, he said.  Bahria Town also offers free health care to the destitute.

When pointed out that it is perceived that the IDPs are avoiding coming to camps due to their tribal traditions, Malik Riaz said, “Over a million people came to Bahria Town camp set up in Mardan following the 2005 earthquake.”

The Bahria Town chairman said he is willing to arrange camps with basic facilities  for the IDPs if the government allows.

To another question he said not only Bahria Town but every welfare organisation should be allowed to help the North Waziristan people.

He said that he had called upon top businesspersons to set up a fund for assisting the underprivileged people of the country. “I would be happy if instead of Malik Riaz there is a forum to help people in distress.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2014.