A. S. Babar Hashmi
Consul General

APPEAL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO

PRIME MINISTER’S FLOOD RELIEF FUND 2010

As you are aware that unprecedented heavy rains in Pakistan have caused serious floods which have severely affected Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.  These floods have led to tragic loss of human lives and have caused serious damage to crops, physical and communication infrastructure in many parts of the country.  So far, more than 1500 persons have lost their lives and more than 14 million people have been displaced due to these floods. The UN has termed this catastrophe bigger than Tsunami and the earthquake in Haiti.

2. The Federal and Provincial governments of Pakistan have launched full fledged rescue and relief operations in affected areas. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is coordinating the rescue and relief operations. However, in view of the magnitude and the scale of disaster, which is many times larger than the catastrophic earthquake of October 2005 (then the area affected was 30,000 Sq. km while in this case it is almost 150,000 Sq. km, in 2005 people affected were 3.2 million and now it is over 14 million), assistance from the international community and from members of the Pakistani Diaspora is urgently required.  Prime Minister of Pakistan has already launched an appeal and has established a special fund titled “Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund 2010” for receiving donations for the flood-affectees. The details of the fund are as follows:

PRIME MINISTER’S FLOOD RELIEF FUND 2010
CONSULATE GENERAL OF PAKISTAN
ACCOUNT NO. 55302089
NATIONAL BANK OF PAKISTAN
100 Wall Street, 21ST Floor
New York, NY 10005

3. For donations in kind i.e. medicines, medical kits, dry milk, Halal food stuff, tents, new clothing etc. Pakistan International Airlines, New York Office at the following address can be contacted:

            Tel:(212) 760-8484  Ext. 218 (Main Office)
            Tel:(718) 656 4040 Ext. 230 (Cargo PIA)
            Fax:212 971 9859(Main Office), 718 656 4025 (Cargo PIA)
            Email: nycuupk@piac.aero

4. Your urgent support and contributions to the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund 2010 would help in alleviating the sufferings of flood affectees in Pakistan and is greatly appreciated.

 Mr. A. S. Babar Hashmi has been the Consul General of Pakistan at the Consulate General in New York since December 2009.

Prior to joining the Consulate General in New York, Mr. Hashmi, a career diplomat, has served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in Missions abroad in various capacities. In the Ministry he worked as Director General, Director, and Desk Officer. Overseas, his diplomatic assignments included those in the Embassy of Pakistan, Berne, the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations in Geneva, the Embassy of Pakistan, Rome, Pakistan High Commission, Abuja, and the Embassy of Pakistan, Belgrade.

 Mr. Hashmi has represented Pakistan in numerous international and regional conferences. He is a graduate of the Government College, Lahore (University), Pakistan and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts / Harvard Universities , USA.

 He is married.