Houstonian Corner (V12-I32)

Historic Pakistani Floods: HHRD Responding With Food, Shelter, & Medicines

Extreme Monsoon Rains of July 28th, 2010, have caused floods of epic proportions in different small rivers and water passages. Particularly, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa District Nowshehra, Peshawar, Charsadda, Swat, Dir Lower, Bannu, Kohat, Lucki Marwat, Shangla and Battgram. In Punjab (District Rajin Pur – Mianwali Area) are the regions, where emergency has been declared due to floods, and in Baluchistan District Barkhan, Sibi, Kohlo, Bolan and Naseerabad are the flood affected districts. These devastating floods caused more than 1,500 deaths and displaced more than three million persons.

“Most of the homes of those affected were mud homes and have been washed away. It will become a long term effort going through emergency mode, then to shelter villages, and eventually to long term rehabilitation. Helping Hand For Relief & Development – USA (HHRD-USA), as in the past with the immense help of conscientious people worldwide, is helping hundreds of people with food, shelter, and medical assistance. Many people coming in the camps have snake bites and facing the danger of getting epidemic diseases. Camps have been installed up till now with more coming in days to come, are in Charsadda (Village Utman Zai); Noshehra; Swat; Buner; and Mianwali. Long-term recuperation efforts to be done by HHRD-USA will be $1 Million+.”

For more information, one can call 832-275-0786 or visit www.hhrd.org and for field information, one can reach Azmat Akbar, Coordinator, Emergency Response Department, Cell: +92-334-513-2873; Phone: +92-336-929-7418; E-Mail: azmatsoul@gmail.com.

Major Milestone for PCC-USA

This past Saturday, July 31st, 2010 was a historic day for the Pakistani Community of USA, when one of the major organizations of the community the “Pakistan Chamber of Commerce – USA (PCC-USA)” inaugurated their office in the esteemed International Trade Center located at 11110 Bellaire, # 202, Houston, Texas 77072.

It was quite befitting that founder President of PCC-USA Dr. Ashraf Abbasi is visiting Houston from Pakistan and inaugurated the office with ribbon cutting together with Attorney Farah Ashraf (legal counsel to PCC-USA and who will be running for the City of Sugar Land Council Seat next year). President of International Trade Center and Honorary Consul General of Ethiopia Gezahgen Kebede, Director of International Press Club John Robbins, Commercial Attaché of Pakistan Dr. Zia Ahmed, Former President Saeed Sheikh, President Elect Gul Faraz Khan, Asif Ehsan General Secretary of PCC-USA, Mumtaz Khan Vice President Media, Khalid Kazi, Liaq Rehman, P J Khan Swati, Waseem Rahim, Zafar Mansuri, and others were present.

All the speakers on the occasion spoke of the historic nature of this inauguration and that this formal office of PCC-USA will help the organization to arrange several workshops, place high quality Pakistani trade items for display like cutlery, medical supplies, textile, and sports goods, collaborate with other chambers in the city & country to take delegations to Pakistan, and much more.

More information about PCC-USA is available on the website http://www.pcc-usa.org/

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