RAWALPINDI - The RCCI on Monday was urged to play its active role to help mitigate sufferings of the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) of North Waziristan Agency and adjoining areas who left their houses after military operation against militants.
At meeting with the RCCI elected representation and the delegation of the federal government led by Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Barrister Usman Ibrahim, the matter of extending maximum help to facilitate the IDPs was discussed in length and breadth here on Monday.
The business community of Rawalpindi was asked to help establish a “drug bank” in Bannu with the aim to overcome the shortage of medicines and hospital supplies to help provide maximum health cover to the IDPs. During the meeting, Administrator PIMS Dr Altaf gave detailed briefing about the medical facilities being provided by the field satellite of the PIMS and indicated about shortage of medicines and essential drugs for the IDPs.
Barrister Usman, on the occasion, said that Pakistan Army had already been providing medical cover to the IDPs and their efforts need to be augmented as this Herculean task cannot be performed single handedly thus the business community and well-to-do people should come forward and play their due role. Acknowledging the role of business community and philanthropists of the country during any national disaster, he said that they had been playing commendable role in helping their country fellows in their trying times and now once again their fellows are waiting for their material help.
He said that the government had already been making all out efforts to provide maximum facilities to the IDPs and the need of the hour was that each one from the society may come forward and help mitigate the sufferings of the IDPs.
President RCCI Dr Shimail Daud Arain told the meeting that the RCCI had already been contributing for the IDPs through provincial government of the Punjab and assured that every possible step would be taken to further help the IDPs.
He pointed out that steps are required to be taken for ensuring transparent utilization of the aid being provided by different donors to the IDPS.
Senior Vice President RCCI Malik Shahid Salim, Vice President M. Alam Chughtai, and a large number of representatives of various trade and business associations from Rawalpindi Cantonment and city were present in the meeting.