M. Atoll raises MVR 200,000 to aid flood-ravaged Pakistan

Residents, local councils and several businesses from M. Atoll have banded together to raise MVR 200,000 to assist the victims of the devastating flash floods in Pakistan.

M. Atoll Council’s President Mohamed Nimal presented the MVR 200,000 cheque to Acting Pakistan High Commissioner Zulqurnain Ahmad during a meeting at the Pakistan High Commission on Wednesday morning.

Nimal was accompanied in the meeting by M. Atoll Council’s Vice President Ahmed Nishan, Councilman Ahmed Zubair, and Senior Executive Mohamed Niyaz.

At the meeting, Zulqurnain expressed gratitude to the Maldivian people for their continued assistance to Pakistan flood victims.

“Even the smallest of assistance provided by the Maldivian people in these difficult times show the love the Maldivian people have for the people of Pakistan,” he said. “The Maldivian people’s solidarity with the Pakistani people is much appreciated and commendable.”

Zulqurnain said the two countries shared strong brotherly ties, and that Pakistan would always wish the best for Maldives.

Meanwhile, Nimal said the chance to assist the people of Pakistan was a matter of great honor for the councils and residents of M. Atoll.

He expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s assistance to Maldives, especially in areas of social and health sector development.

Nimal and his team also briefed Zulqurnain about the progress of the Pakistan-funded project to build a community center in M. Muli - named the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah Memorial Pakistan - Maldives Community Center in honor of the founder of Pakistan.

Foundation for the MVR 2.6 million project was laid back in February.

Unprecedented monsoon rains and flooding this year - which many experts attribute to climate change – have claimed over 1,600 lives in Pakistan since mid-June. Two million homes across the country were damaged or destroyed, leaving about half a million flood survivors homeless, living in tents and makeshift structures.

Pakistan estimates losses from the floods amounts to USD 40 billion.