Overseas Pakistanis Have Donated Rs 1 Billion In Dams Fund So Far

Rs 8.46 billion have been collected in the dams fund so far.

Lahore (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 10th December, 2018) The overseas Pakistanis have donated Rs 1 billion in the dam fund so far.

According to details, the overseas Pakistanis have donated Rs 1 billion in the fund dedicate to the construction of Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dams.

Moreover, about Rs 7.47 billion has been collected from within Pakistan.

According to the figures released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Rs 8.46 billion have been collected in the dams fund so far.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, who took the initiative of fund collection, launched the fund on July 6 which was later joined by Prime Minister Imran Khan, making it joint venture to overcome the country's water scarcity.

The overseas Pakistanis were passionately contributing to the national cause after the prime minister appealed to the estimated nine million overseas Pakistanis, particularly those living in European countries and the United States, to contribute at least $1,000 per head to the noble cause, and warned that Pakistan could face famine-like conditions by 2025 if new water reservoirs were not built now.

He also asked Pakistanis for generous donations.

The CJP also visited UK for fundraiser to avert the looming threat which may invite drought in Pakistan in coming years. Around $14 billion is required for the construction of the Diamer Bhasha dam.

Within Pakistan, the contributions were made through cheques, cash and mobile phone message service. An amount of Rs 125 million was received through the SMS services of the four cellular companies operating in Pakistan.

The overseas Pakistanis transmitted their donations through debit and credit cards and in the SBP Nostro account and commercial banks overseas. Most of the foreign donations came from Pakistanis living in the United States which is around around Rs 362 million while those in Britain gave around Rs 214 million. Pakistanis in Canada donated Rs 107 million.