Webinar to discuss relief efforts for Pakistani diaspora in Kuwait during COVID-19 pandemic

As part of the Mission’s outreach efforts to regularly interact with the Pakistani community, a webinar was organized today involving community leaders. The purpose of the online meeting was to discuss further expansion of relief efforts for Pakistani diaspora of Kuwait in the wake of prolonged curfew and suspension of economic activities. Federal Minister for Narcotics Control, Mr. Muhammad Azam Khan Swati especially participated.

More than fifty prominent Pakistanis from different walks of life including entrepreneurs, professionals, educationists, political and social activists participated and gave their inputs regarding the issues/difficulties faced by the community.

The participants, in the start were given an overview of the Mission’s efforts to help our compatriots in Kuwait. They were apprised that the Embassy has distributed around one thousand boxes of dry ration in the first four phases of the campaign while the fifth one has started today. The dry ration was arranged through Kuwaiti friends. Cash disbursement amongst the countrymen was also done with the help of different Pakistani organizations and Kuwaiti philanthropists.

The community leaders were also informed that the Embassy has continued to provide consular and other services even during the 24-hour curfew. Moreover, in result of the Mission’s efforts, 259 illegal Pakistanis were repatriated in a timely manner while another 262 stranded Pakistanis have already travelled to Pakistan by special PIA flights.

During the course of the meeting, the community leaders pledged an amount of around 11,000 Kuwaiti Dinar (around US$ 36,000) which will be distributed by the Embassy after scrutiny of the countrymen who are in need. The process of scrutiny will be done by the community leaders in their respective areas and the Embassy will be given the list of needy Pakistanis. The Embassy will subsequently distribute cash to the deserving.

Ambassador Syed Sajjad Haider, in his address assured the community leaders that the Embassy and its staff will continue to serve Pakistani diaspora despite multiple challenges ranging from movement restrictions to health hazards to closure of public and private offices in Kuwait. The community leaders appreciated efforts of the Mission for helping the Pakistani diaspora tirelessly, especially during the Coronavirus health emergency.

Kuwait,

07 June 2020.