Ismaili Imamat contributes $10m for Pakistan's flood-hit victims

The Ismaili Imamat on Sunday announced to contribute $10 million towards flood relief efforts in Pakistan.

The development was announced by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in a tweet in which he thanked Prince Rahim Aga Khan for the generous contribution made by the Ismaili Imamat.

During a call with Pakistan's premier, Prince Rahim Aga Khan assured him that all Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) institutions will be fully engaged in the relief efforts.

PM Shahbaz expressed gratitude to Prince Rahim for the Imamat's contribution and acknowledged the role that Aga Khan and Aga Khan the III played in the development of Pakistan.

Taking to Twitter, PM Shahbaz wrote that he is "deeply indebted to His Highness the Aga Khan for the contribution of $10 million for the flood victims in Pakistan".

"In a telephonic chat with Prince Rahim Aga Khan today, I requested His Highness to play his role in raising awareness about flood situation in international community," he added in his tweet.

Later, in a statement issued by the  Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) said that half of the donation amount which is equal to $5m will be given to the government of Pakistan while a remaining $5m will be given to the AKDN for relief efforts.

According to the statement, Prince Rahim during conversation with PM Shehbaz said, “I am deeply concerned about the impact of the current floods in Pakistan, which have been intensified by the effects of climate change. These floods, and the many other weather events we are experiencing around the world, require us all governments, businesses, communities, and individuals to redouble our efforts to combat the climate crisis which threatens to engulf us. The institutions of the Ismaili Imamat have been mobilised to support the government in its relief and rehabilitation efforts.”

During the discussion, the Prime Minister expressed appreciation on behalf of the people and Government of Pakistan for the unwavering support of the Ismaili Imamat and the AKDN institutions. He also expressed his deepest respects for the work that the AKDN institutions have been delivering in Pakistan since its independence, read a statement.

As per AKDN, over 8,000 people have been successfully evacuated from affected areas while more than 4,000 families have been provided with food packages since the start of the flooding. Healthcare camps have been set up in several parts of the country by the Aga Khan University and Aga Khan Health Service where over 2,000 flood affected people have been given assistance.

AKDN Helicopter operations have also been assisting in rescue missions and supporting the delivery of food items and medicines to remote areas in Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan, it said.

It should be noted that the United Nation initiated a global flash appeal for $160m, following which several influential personalities and organisations have pledged their support for Pakistan’s flood-hit population.

This contribution by Prince Rahim is also in response to the UN’s call.