Consulate Raises $500,000
for Earthquake Victims
By Naushad Sarwar
 |
N.M. Jadmani |
N.M. Jadmani |
Irfan Murtaza |
Laila Karam |
Mariam Rashid |
Yousuf Tar |
The dawn of October 8, 2005
will be remembered as a tragic one in the history of Pakistan
as it unfolded chaos, death, and ruins on this volatile
earth. So observed Aisha Ghauri on November 13 while emceeing
a fundraiser for the quake victims at the LAX Hilton. The
fundraiser was arranged by the Consulate General of Pakistan.
Members of the Pakistani-American
community who extended wholehearted support to the fundraiser
The proceedings began with a recitation from the Holy Qur’an
by Mohammed Khan asking mercy for this ephemeral Mother
Earth. Mrs. Aisha Ghauri of Netsoltek emceed the event with
a beaming Consul General Noor Muhammed Jadmani actively
involved in the proceedings. More than 1000 elite of the
city had responded to his call and had graced the occasion
for a noble cause. “That morning came upon the masses
and killed 78,000, toppled mud brick homes, buried residents
under tons of rubble and left families without beloved fathers,
mothers, children and family members affecting a generation
on that part of land,” Mrs. Aisha Ghuari bemoaned.
Members of the Pakistani-American
community who extended wholehearted support to the fundraiser
|
Mr. N. M. Jadmani profusely
expressed his gratitude to the many, many guests that Sunday
evening stating that if he started naming supporters the
count would take the whole evening. The catastrophe is a
challenge and we must strive earnestly to overcome the odds
and respond as a united nation, a closely bonded community,
he observed. Mr. Jadmani also acknowledged Air Blue’s
contribution of $300,000 to the President’s Relief
Fund. “A task of this magnitude that affected 30,000
square kilometer injuring 78,000, with 3.5 million homeless”
is a colossal one and we have a long way to go in raising
5.5 billion dollars in the next 6 to 10 years, he observed.
Consul General Jadmani also thanked Ms. Aisha Ghauri, Ms.
Mariam Rashid and other volunteers for their untiring efforts
in organizing the event.
Irfan Murtaza, a prominent poet of Los Angeles, read a poem
to describe the plight of those who had perished in the
quake and the survivors whose anguish and pain continue.
His kalam left many in the audience teary eyed. Ms Mariam
Rashid also expressed her thanks to the attendees for their
presence and generous support. Ms. Laila Karamally, a social
worker, who has been to Pakistan recently furnished first-hand
information on the tragic happenings.
The pledges received that night aggregated $500,000. Money
Gram contributed a hefty $20,000.
It was a night that crossed all barriers of race, religion,
and geographical boundaries and featured local and Hollywood
celebrities as well. No doubt the night saw the validation
of a commitment on the part of the attendees to continue
to support the earthquake victims.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
