Nepal consulate collecting donations until Friday

KARACHI:

A week after the devastating earthquake in Nepal claimed over 7,000 lives, the honorary consul-general of the disaster-struck country appealed to Pakistanis for aid.

"If anyone wants to go to Nepal to help the victims, I will provide them with visas within five minutes," Mushtaq Chhapra told The Express Tribune on Sunday. "The people of Nepal have a natural affinity with Pakistanis; they are like brothers." He added that people who wanted to help should contact the Nepalese embassy in Islamabad or the consulate in Karachi for guidance about what to give and how.

Recalling how Nepal aided Pakistan after the earthquake in the northern areas of the country in 2005, he pointed out that a team of 25 Nepalis arrived in Azad Kashmir within two days of the disaster to help in the initial relief work. "It is time to pay them back for how they aided us," he urged, adding that a relief account had been set up at Habib Bank Limited in Islamabad to allow people to donate easily.

According to Chhapra, there are five things that are needed in Nepal: tents, blankets, water, ready-to-eat food and medicines. He added, however, that those who want to help should focus on the first four items since the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association had pledged to provide free medicines.

Stressing that 70 per cent of Nepal's population is Hindu while 22 per cent is Buddhist, he asked donors to be careful about the food they sent. "Please send food items that are energy products and ready to eat because people do not have cooking facilities right now," he explained.

He also requested people not to buy tents on their own but to contact the Nepalese authorities instead. "We are only sending lightweight tents, which will be easier to carry, and have hired a supplier for these," he explained.

The consulate is short on time; Friday is the last day to donate. "If you live in Karachi, you can easily visit us to donate but if you are in any other city, we will manage the logistics if you call us," Chhapra said.

He also named other organisations that were helping thousands of families who had lost their homes in the disaster. The Edhi Foundation has already sent a team of four members to Nepal, while the Karachi Relief Trust, which has expertise in flood and earthquake relief, is providing counselling to victims, he said.

How to donate

The consulate is
collecting donations at the following address:

Honorary Consul General of Nepal
301-302, Mehdi Tower, SMCHS, Sharae Faisal, Karachi

House No. 23, KMCHS Block 7/8, Sharae Faisal, Karachi

Contact: 34533611-4, 34550042 Fax: [phone]

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2015.