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ABC Radio Flood Appeal Raises $ 3 million in 3 Days For Pakistan Flood Relief
ABC the largest radio network in Australia had designated Friday as ‘Pakistan Flood Appeal Day’ and all the radio shows throughout the day made repeated appeals to the listeners all over Australia to donate money in order to assist with flood relief work in Pakistan. The appeal was started at 0700 am in the morning and within less than 12 hours it was announced at 6pm in the evening that $ 2million had been collected from members of the Australian public.
As on 30 August, more than 19000 Australian radio listeners on the ABC Radio had donated over $3 million for the flood victims in Pakistan. This also included a $250,000 donation from the NSW government. ABC Radio has been encouraging listeners to donate to the crisis for two weeks already, but since the situation got worse - all ABC Radio networks joined forces for the first time this Friday (August 27) for a national Pakistan Flood Appeal day.
"We are increasing our commitment with this appeal day on Friday 27 August by asking ABC Radio listeners to further support our regional community," says ABC Radio Director Kate Dundas.
"Listeners will be encouraged to donate to their preferred overseas aid agency or to UNICEF, the United Nations Children Fund, which is appealing for $45 million to cover cost of water, hygiene, emergency food and sanitation for more than one million children and their families."
The Pakistan Consul General in Sydney Mr. Hamid Asghar was in ABC studios AT 0700 am to inaugurate the appeal and appeared live for a number of interviews to highlight the need for immediate assistance.
The Premier of New South Wales Ms Kristina Keneally herself personally telephoned the ABC morning show being participated in by Mr Khan and urged people to donate generously.Her announcement of substantial immediate assistance on behalf of the New South Wales Government and her decision to host a fundraiser for Pakistan brought the issue into focus and greatly inspired people to come forward to donate generously.
Expressing his gratitude to ABC for this initiative and for the Premier’s support Mr. Khan stated that Ms Keneally had shown tremendous compassion and leadership in announcing her support for the cause in such a public way. Mr. Khan said he found the Australian people to be humane, caring and generous during his interaction across New South Wales. He said despite the physical distance between the two countries, there was widespread sympathy for the plight of the innocent Pakistani citizens who had suffered due to this natural calamity.
The Premier Ms Keneally informed the public on ABC that her office would work in close coordination with the Pakistani Consulate in Sydney in order to make the fundraising dinner a success. She also stated that during a briefing at her office, various options to provide assistance were discussed.
Gratefully acknowledging the initiative of ABC Radio, the head of UNICEF in Australia also said that the channel had brought the plight of innocents caught up in the floods into focus and had helped raised awareness apart from the much needed funds for urgently required food and medical aid. Donation lines would be kept open all weekend and it was hoped that at least another $ 250,000 would be donated.
The ABC radio appeal has been acclaimed by the Pakistani community who have praised the kind gesture. Mr. Iftikhar Rana, President of the Pakistan Association hailed the tremendous contribution of ABC. In the Morning Show of ABC on Friday, 27th August there was Live Interview of Syed Zafar Hussain Editor-in-Chief of Sada-e-Watan Sydney. Syed Zafar Hussain thanks ABC for broadcasting his Interview . He appreciated the contribution of Australian Government, People of Australia, Australian Media specially ABC. Mr. Zafar Hussain explained the Great welfare services of the Australian Pakistani Community, High Commissioner Fauzia Nasreen, Consul General Hamid Asghar and Edhi International Foundation of Australia.
The listeners of ABC appreciated the Interview of CG Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan. This is the first time ABC TV used footage shot in Radio National and Sada-e-Watan is glad it is important video of our Popular Acting Consul General of Pakistan in Sydney Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan. Please click here to watch the Video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A83_K_5q780
