Aid containers were sent twice by Pakistani Diaspora from Houston to help victims in Pakistan

By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada

Houston: In the presence of Pakistan’s Consul General Aftab Chaudhry, State of Texas Representative Dr. Suleman Lalani, Tariq Majeed – Pakistani Association Austin, and former Test Cricketer Jalaluddin, the Houston community under the Alliance for Disaster Relief (AFDR), Helping Hands USA, and Houston Karachi Sister City Association, on August 5, 2023, sent a 40-foot container of new items to assist those affected by consecutive floods in various parts of Pakistan. These items include winter provisions, household goods, and hygiene items. These items will be distributed among families affected by consecutive years of flooding in different parts of Pakistan, as the country is grappling with the impacts of climate change and economic decline.
During this occasion, Pakistan’s Consul General Aftab Chaudhry remarked, “It is heartening to see the Pakistani diaspora always coming forward to sincerely assist fellow country persons hit by natural disasters.”
On this occasion, a special State of Texas Certificate of Recognition was presented by Dr. Suleman Lalani (D), a representative of the Texas State Assembly, to President Muhammad Saeed Sheikh and Board Member Dr. Yaqub Sheikh of AFDR.

Muhammad Saeed Sheikh, Coordinator of AFDR, stated, “With the partnership of our implementing organization, Helping Hand For Relief And Development (HHRD), AFDR provided immediate relief to more than 65,000 Pakistanis affected by the super floods of 2022. We are currently constructing 155 homes for those whose houses were destroyed by the floods. Through the generosity of patrons like Syed Javed Anwar of Midland, entrepreneur Tanweer Ahmed of Houston, Tariq Majeed of Austin, and many others, AFDR was able to raise $1 million in cash and $1 million in-kind to provide assistance in 2022 and early 2023. Now, we have launched efforts for the Super Floods 2023 Recuperation with the sending of this container.”

Illyas Hasan Choudry, Director of Development at HHRD, highlighted the significance of the new relief items in the container, emphasizing their developmental value. He mentioned that HHRD initiated a $15 cash campaign for Pakistan Floods for 2022-2023, achieving 85% of the target. HHRD is presently constructing 621 homes for those affected by the 2022 floods, initiating relief efforts for those affected by the June 25, 2023 floods, supporting 10,000 orphans, 1,600 children with disabilities, 18 skills development and livelihood centers, more than 700 water projects, and other initiatives with a budget of $17 million for the year 2023.
Tariq Majeed of Austin, Dr. Yaqub Sheikh of AFDR Houston, and Shah Haleem of Bangladesh Association also addressed the occasion. The event was attended by several prominent community leaders, including Saad Ansari, Akhtar Abdullah, Siraj Narsi, Mehmood Ahmed, Rehman Patel, Mehmood Marfani, and others.