Pakistan Foreign Office Women’s Association Funds Construction of Forty-Two Homes for Flood Affectees

(2011-01-28)

At an impressive ceremony held at the Naval Headquarters today, Pakistan Foreign Office Women’s Association (PFOWA) presented a cheque of over Rupees 4.5 million for construction of 42 homes in Sajawal, Sindh for flood affectees by the Pakistan Navy on behalf of the Foreign Service community. Pakistan Navy is constructing 600 homes for shelterless families in Sajawal as part of its ‘Operation Madad.’

Present on the occasion were Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Noman Bashir, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, President PFOWA Mrs. Taranum Salman Bashir and senior officers of Pakistan Navy and the Foreign Service of Pakistan, as well as PFOWA members. The participants were given a presentation on Pakistan Navy’s relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Speaking on the occasion, President PFOWA Mrs. Taranum Salman Bashir said that the Foreign Service community was deeply imbued by its desire to contribute to the rehabilitation of the flood affectees as its patriotic and national duty. The construction and handing of “ownership” of 42 houses was the first major step in this direction.

Earlier, PFOWA had contributed to the relief phase by providing essential humanitarian assistance in different parts of the country. A large part of the assistance was provided to the needy on a timely basis through the Pakistan Navy.

The Foreign Secretary noted that it was good to see the “women lead from the front” in a national cause. This was evident from the efforts of PFOWA and Pakistan Navy Women Association (PNWA) and reflected the resolve of the whole nation to overcome any challenge. Foreign Service community was happy to contribute to this national effort.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Noman Bashir stated that the Pakistan Navy valued its partnership with the Foreign Ministry in all national endeavours. The cooperation between the two in dealing with the rescue, relief and rehabilitation phase of the flood calamity was ample demonstration of their harmonious cooperation. The Pakistan Navy was contributing substantially to the post flood requirements as its national duty.

Pakistan Foreign Office Women’s Association is a registered non-governmental charitable organization bringing together spouses of Pakistan Foreign Service officers and Pakistan’s women diplomats. Besides undertaking charitable endeavours in the areas of education, health and widow welfare for low income Foreign Office employees, PFOWA also provides a cultural interface between the Foreign Office and Islamabad’s diplomatic community.

In recent years, PFOWA has substantially expanded its social outreach by undertaking community welfare projects for the underprivileged throughout the country.

Islamabad
28 January 2011

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