Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) has decided to sponsor a village comprising at least 100 houses in Northern Areas for the rehabilitation of flood affectees, whose houses have been washed away by the devastating flash floods.

The decision was made after a visit of ICCI delegation to some flood hit areas of Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa. The construction of 100 Kacha houses will be carried out by Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry with donations from its members.

Chairing a meeting of businessmen, Mr.Zahid Maqbool, President, ICCI said that the worst floods in the living memory of Pakistan have killed large number of persons and uprooted thousands of people.

He said thousands of flood affectees face an imminent threat to their lives, in case they are not urgently provided food, clean water and shelter. It is not possible for government to provide relief to all the highly vulnerable displaced persons as the magnitude of the tragedy is too big for its scant resources.

He said it is the responsibility of whole nation to come forward play its positive role in mitigating the sufferings of displaced people. He said every fasting person should give his/her Fitrana for flood affectees, which will generate a hefty amount for providing crucial relief to these direly needy persons.

He also appealed to all businessmen of the area to contribute donations generously to ICCI so that it could start construction of houses for displaced people as early as possible.

The entrepreneurs also suggested that a group of leading businessmen should set up a support fund and then appeal to others be made to contribute. A move in that direction could lead to the collection of hundreds of millions of rupees for flood victims, they said.

They said that langars or free kitchens should also be opened by philanthropists at suitable locations all over the country to help the displaced persons survive. They said business community and other well-to-do people should contribute to such free kitchens and earn maximum blessings of GOD in this holy month of Ramadan.

Mr.Zahid Maqbool said that once the survival issue is resolved, the funds should be used for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the areas destroyed.