This is really great to see the expat community helping their countrymen back home. Thank you APPNA and AOPP.
Pakistani-Americans making an effort at quake relief
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_10-10-2005_pg7_36
WASHINGTON: The Pakistani-American community is mounting a spirited effort to raise funds to help the government back home in dealing with the unprecedented human emergency created by the massive earthquake, which devastated Kashmir and parts of Pakistan.
Several organisations, including the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America (APPNA) and the Association of Pakistani Professionals (AOPP), are making efforts to raise funds. The Pakistan embassy, the Pakistani consulate and the UN mission in New York have set up special emergency help lines and are appealing to the community to make generous donations. Arrangements have been put in place to grant immediate visas to journalists and others who wish to proceed to Pakistan to inspect the devastation caused by the earthquake, measured at 7.6 on the Richter Scale.
AOOP chief Syed Asif Alam, in a message to fellow American Muslims, said: “Nature has its own ways to show its power; it is very important to reflect and contribute in anyway possible, those who survived and lost not only there homes and life long savings but near and dear ones. The earthquake tragedy in Pakistan has left all Pakistanis around the world in a state of shock. It is a time for unity and, more importantly, to help those who are suffering from this tragic incident. There are so many children who are without a family, so many families without a home. Let us help rebuild.”