Lahore: Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan has so far spent Rs1.1 billion on relief and rehabilitation activities for flood-affected communities across Pakistan, said Professor Dr. Hafeezur Rehman, President of Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, while presiding over a review meeting of the ongoing Flood Rescue and Relief Operation.
CEO Khubaib Bilal briefed participants on Alkhidmat’s humanitarian efforts in 58 districts. Prof. Dr. Hafeezur Rehman said that in the first phase only a few districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Azad Kashmir were affected. However, following the cloudbursts, heavy rains and river flooding after August 15, large parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and other regions came under severe impact.
He added that within hours of the August 15 emergency meeting, Alkhidmat volunteers launched rescue operations that have now continued for over 40 days. During this period, 16,421 volunteers conducted 2,161 emergency rescue operations using 31 boats and 130 machinery units, safely relocating 38,
606 people to safer places.
The foundation has so far distributed 424,051 cooked food boxes and provided monthly ration packages to 44,695 families. Fifteen tent villages were established, accommodating 16,327 individuals with access to food, clean water, healthcare, schooling, play areas for children, and in some cases mosques and libraries.
In the health sector, Alkhidmat deployed eight mobile health units, set up 767 medical camps and operated 60 ambulances, benefiting nearly 200,000 patients and injured persons.
Prof. Dr. Hafeezur Rehman said that with local infrastructure, sewerage systems and water supply lines destroyed in many areas, Alkhidmat’s WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) programme had distributed 359,984 water bottles, 4,776 hygiene kits, 4,023 dignity kits, 811 water tanks and 3,869 jerry cans. Twelve mobile filtration plants continue to provide clean drinking water to affected populations.
He further added that beyond human needs, Alkhidmat also arranged fodder for livestock, supplyin
g 128 truckloads of feed in flood-hit areas.
The meeting was attended by Alkhidmat Secretary General Syed Waqas Jafri, Vice President Syed Ehsanullah Waqas, CEO Khubaib Bilal, Director Programmes Hammad Akhtar, Senior Manager Media Relations Shoaib Hashmi, Manager Disaster Management Asif Jamal and other officials.