South Asian Earthquake: Don’t care… or don’t know?

i am sad about the earthquake. my friend priya is trying to collect clothes, money, food, shoes,basically anything to give to these ppl. so many people have died and we are talkin about indians here the least people can do is give a few dollars. even a few dollars makes a difference.

Many of those so called ``pledges`` will never materialize, most of them will be loans that will plunge the country into further debt and impoverish the people as finace charges that become profits of banks in the developed countries, take a larger chunk out of the budget (which as is spends very little on social services).

Further, past IMF/World Bank loans show that these ``pledges`` will come with strict conditions on who gets the contracts and most of the money will be recycled back to the West in the form of lucrative contracts given to their firms for reconstruction or project management.

This ``aid`` business, used as an implicit tool of oppression by the U.S. has proven to be, throughout the past several decades, a mere farce

People of world care about pakistan, doners gave pleadges for 5.3 billion dollars exceeding best hopes.
Arjun your all comments are wrong.

Karen Hughes, the public face of the Bush Presidential Campaign (in 2000), was sworn in as undersecretary of state for public diplomacy on September 8, 2005. The president explained during the swearing in ceremony that Hughes is being appointed to explain ``our policies and fundamental values`` to people around the world, specifically to the Arab and Muslim world. In Pakistan at a news conference (reported by The Dawn newspaper 11/15/’05), Ms. Hughes stated, ``the Bush Administration was seriously concerned about the devastating Oct 8 earthquake... (and was) urging the international community to play its due role .`` This comment when read in the context of the recent report by Oxfam, a non-government global relief agency reveals the organized hypocrisy that defines the U.S. elite. Oxfam, documented figures showing that the rich countries including the U.S. were failing to respond to the UN appeal for funds for the earthquake victims (Oxfam press release - 26 October 05). With winter approaching, people in the hundreds of thousands were (and are) at risk of death, but are being widely ignored by the U.S. elite, except for a few oft-repeated public relations stunts, like the Karen Hughes news conference, massively advertised by local media, to win over the “hearts” of the people.

Summarizing the figures of how the rich countries are failing to fund UN relief for the earthquake victims, Oxfam states: ``Governments that have given less than one fifth of their fair share include Japan (17 per cent), Germany (14 per cent), US (9 per cent) and Italy (7 per cent).” That Karen Hughes would turn a miserly 9 percent fulfillment of her country`s responsibility to the UN into a well publicized ``care campaign`` is expected from an Administration that was congratulating its own ``response`` to the Louisiana hurricane disaster even as the poor that were left stranded were drowning in New Orleans.

Compare the minuscule aid given for earthquake victims by the U.S. to the lucrative F-16 contract given by the government of Pakistan to the U.S military industries, which ensures profits of tens of millions of dollars for the U.S.corporate elite. Pakistan agreed to purchase 77 second-hand F-16s (since they are being purchased from a third country, probably Israel and upgraded by the U.S.) from the U.S at a price tag of $40 million a piece. This contract is one of the many cases of the poor countries feeding the profits of corporations in the developed world because the military and state institutions of the poor country are controlled by proxy by the U.S. elite. Now, compared to this huge amount that will be taken from a poor country, the U.S. returns a minuscule percent of it in the form of aid that comes with conditions that circumvent the sovereignty of the recipient nation. The U.S. elite exports poverty to the developing world and imports wealth from it. Operating with a specific worldview, in control of the world’s wealth and the apparatus of public relations, these elite ensure that their decisions will prevail over all others. In such relationships, the poor countries lose on every occasion.
Asadi

#55 zeena behna, no need to yelp at a casual observation. it was posted nearly half a dozen times in your ilog, and then here as well, so made me wonder if it was a publicity gimmick. jeolousy would be logical amongst one`s own profession, I`m no MD, so relax. yeah I don`t see the need for roaring who did what, it`s immodest, esp. if the need is genuine and the efforts are sincere. plus the fact that you lot are doctors and it is your duty to go where no insurance follows. For groups to get recognition, broadcasting it a few times, quietly if possible, preferably on a plaque in their offices or a half-page in some journal, is dignified and sufficient. if you want pats on the back from laypersons, use your resources to lobby governments for more aid going to the right places, and get a headline on page two. repeated self-congratulations do no good except bloat egos, while people on the ground still need more food and more medicine. I`m sure APPNA isn`t the only organization rounding up funds so strenuously, and their efforts, elaborate or meagre, are surely adequately appreciated by those on the receiving end. that should be quite enough.

Hello Beena, nice to see you back in action.

#25 by Romair

[The way Pakistanis of all types, rushed into Kashmir, after the earthquake, was unprecendented. I didn`t see anyone rushing into New Orleans, after Katrina. Or in various other disasters.]

But that is because most Pakis have little or no faith that their government (read military dictatorship) is upto the task of helping the victims, whereas in the case of Katrina, Americans did. That is the key difference which you, as usual, are incapable of fathoming.

Most of the victims are low-income people who are chokidars, servants, waiters and peons, specially the non-Kashmiris who don`t have the Mirpur Vilayti Window - if the Margalla Towers hadn`t collapsed, the response would have been even weaker. It`s the crying baby that gets picked up, and most of the victims - especially the non-Kashmiris haven`t learned to make their cries heard.

#54 kidbeegorilla
It looks like you are jealous of earthquake victims being helped through APPNA.........
Strange, really strange.........

You`re acting like a one with nothing to achieve, nothing to help, nothing to roar, nothing to do band baja for. Yes, that is what they are doing......healing the wounds of those who are in dire need. Physicians in USA are hardworking , intelligent honest professional people, highly unlike people like you, who have nothing, but, to criticise for NO reason. People like you are extremely mean and can`t hide their jealousy. People like you are good for nothing, but, yet, feel pleasure like devils to criticise negatively every good deed. APPNA band baja is helping daily, helping thousands in need , fresh groups of doctors are being sent on weekly basis with surgical equipments..................What do you have to roar about????Show your cards.............

# 52 hear, hear!

zeena, why the rigorous drumming of APPNA band baja? I was under the impression the medical profession was bound to help people of THE EARTH by oath.

#48 by mustt on November 15, 2005 6:24am PT


Most of the Tsunami hit areas were very popular with western tourists while Pakistan certainly isn`t.


Less than 0.1% of westerners have actually been to those places and yet there were collections at a lot of street corners...

Indonesians are muslims so that can`t be it..

It`s donor/disaster fatigue ...And the paki government trying to save it`s honor and dignity by acting like it didn`t need all the help it could get...

God helps those, who help themselves.

Beena

There is a great outpouring of earthquake related articles, especially on captive crowds - like chowk.com. I was interested to read if you had any cutting insights. Most of the stuff you talked about was already covered in ``Why Doesn`t the World Care?`` by Aamir Ibrahim - published on chowk on Nov 3.

nothing new - I`m afraid - saying the same thing to the same people isnt adding any value.

thankfully, people who care have enough sense not to play politics in this hour of need. nor do they sit around waiting for goras to appear:



Ordinary Pakistanis jam highways in rush to volunteer

GARHI DUPATTA, PAKISTAN - In these valleys near the epicenter of Pakistan`s earthquake, industrialist Nauman Wazir is applying the skills that made him rich in the steel business to push relief aid to quake survivors. Sometimes that means paying money under the table to move mountains - or pieces of mountains at least.

``Being businessmen, we use our own methods, giving money here and there. Anything to get this done,`` says Mr. Wazir, explaining how he paid out of his own pocket to have landslides cleared so trucks could reach inaccessible areas. ``Since the quake I`ve not been at my job. We`ve probably lost millions of rupees,`` he adds, standing in a tent village funded by the Industrial Association of Peshawar, a group he oversees. ``But I could not have lived through the trauma had I not done something.``

All across Pakistan, efforts to overcome the disaster have been borne by thousands of citizens like Wazir. Their efforts underscore a robust local response that contrasts sharply with relatively tepid donations from the international community.

Pakistan has one of the highest rates of philanthropy in the world, with studies showing that 58 percent of Pakistanis volunteer their time to needy causes, giving nearly $700 million a year in charity. Alms giving is built into the very social and economic fabric of the state, with some $70 million automatically deducted each year from national bank accounts as part of the mandatory Muslim prescription known as zakat.

But observers say that, even by Pakistani standards, the public response has been overwhelming, with relief aid and volunteers immediately pouring into the affected areas from all over the country. It has reinvigorated a civic spirit not seen in some four decades.

...Individual donations like this have so far amounted to a staggering whole, with the President`s Relief Fund reporting nearly $100 million already deposited to date, and another $100 million in pledges from NGOs and the corporate sector.

...But Pakistanis are not only giving generously of their money, but also their time.

Tanveer Afzel`s tent in Abbottabad, near the quake`s epicenter, sees a steady trickle of volunteers. The affable Mr. Afzel, a banker by profession, accepts them graciously, providing rounds of tea and crisp instructions in several languages as to where they can deposit relief goods.

...``It was as if one huge family had been struck. Thousands of families were acting as one,`` says Ms. Khattak. ``This is coming at a time when the national spirit will reinforce the country`s unity.``

Re: # 46

Dear Mr. Hindvi, I never said that Turks are not religious. My understanding is that the Turks hate Arabs with a vengeance, and this whole ‘Ummah’ thing is a Desi concept. Turks are more interested in joining their EUmmah than they are the interested in the other type. Similarly, Iranians don’t give a hoot about Ummah either, at least such was not the case for the better part of 80s and 90s. Ummah was divided into two: Um and Ass. I think Pakistanis supported Saddams back then. Let’s not forget our recent history too fast.

# 48… Dear Mr. Mustt…another reason for lack of reporting is that Pakistan didn’t allow any Western Media inside Kashmir before the earthquake. There are still devastated parts that are out of bounds for “foreigners”. Reporters are not allowed in certain parts of Pakistan, and if god forbid something happens in the Tribal Areas or part of Baluchistan, I hope Pakistanis don’t complain for lack of international coverage.

Beena, I usually hate to state the obvious but someone has to come out and say this: There is one major difference between the Tsunami hit areas and northern Pakistan. Most of the Tsunami hit areas were very popular with western tourists while Pakistan certainly isn`t. So as far as the western media is concerned the Tsunami hit alot closer to home and many westerners lost their lives and loved ones to it. So there are huge differences in the way the popular media has reported the two tragedies. As a result, the general public in the richer countries of the world are in comparison pretty apathetic to the consequences of this earthquake. Likewise, their governments!

With in hours after the earthquake hit Pakistan, some Pakistani doctors in our mosque started forming a volunteer group of doctors who would leave with in a couple of days to the area of devastation and provide medical help. These doctors used their contacts and various other Muslim doctors from the area of multinational origins, like Turkish, Indonesian, Bangladeshi, Hyderabadi, Canadians etc. also joined the group and group became as large as 15 doctors. Theses doctors used their resources and Muslim community pitched in and with in 5 days they made a container full of medical supplies ready. Every doctor was so excited because that was going to be one hell of a Ramadan that could become their stairway to heaven. But GOP refused enetry to all doctors except three Pakistani; the Pakistani doctors were not allowed because they were Paksitani citizens but only on the condition that they would deposit all their medical supplies to Prime Minister`s Relief Fund first.

The Pak military regime in their vassal mentality could not allow those doctors probably because it reflected bad on their masters. And it was against the wishes of their masters also for whom every Muslim is a terrorist. One of the core reason the military regime discuraged foreign media from reporting the truth of devastation was because it would mobilize the Muslims across the region. This is the last thing that these cowards and hypocites want. Their cowardice is eveident by the fact that as their masters came in with their couple of helicopters they tore down all the banners of Muslim humanitarian organizations; who started helping their fellow brethern even when rocks hadn`t stopped falling yet. Oh God! Help us rid of these heartless cowards and hypocrites who oppress us and steer us away from Your righteous path.

Mr. Kulharee

you are misinformed, most turks are religous, Erdogans presence at the head of the turkish govt is evidence of that. The secular westernised segment is large but nonetheless a minority, it is more evident outside Turkey and in positions of power in the elite, thus this misimpression. Though if u said the turks, syrians, Libyans, Algerians, tunisians etc are less orthodox than most other muslim nations (save Kazakhistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and kyrghizistan) you would be right.

Re: # 38
You shud have appreciated the jihadis when they were putting their lives at risk to help the quake affected ppl....jihad does not mean to kill innocent people so please call them(the people behind the blast) by the name of their organization and not JIHADIS....
thanks.

Re: # 38
You shud have appreciated the jihadis when they were putting their lives at risk to help the quake affected ppl....jihad does not mean to kill innocent people so please call them(the people behind the blast) by the name of their organization and not JIHADIS....
thanks.

Re: # 38

``I hope the Pakistani people can finally take a stand and end these Lashkar-e-this and Jaish-e-that organizations from their soil.``


Not gonna happen untill the brainwashing of children stops:

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/18514

And considering the recent bomb (and a couple earlier) was at a KFC outlet, this from the above article is really ironic:

``A significant proportion of these are run by, or connected to, the radical Islamist political parties such as the MMM, which under Sami`s vice-presidency have just imposed a Taliban-like regime on Pakistan`s North-West Frontier Province, banning the public performance of music and depictions of the human form. The one exception to this, bizarrely, is the image of Colonel Sanders outside the new Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Peshawar. This was apparently because the Colonel was judged to be sporting a properly Islamic beard, and so was spared the iconoclasm imposed elsewhere.``

Broadcasters banned /shut down for telling the story of the Earth Quake

and you wonder why?

The harsh winter is on the way and many are still homeless. The goverment can relocate people in schools and colleges. The children of the school and colleges which are taken over can go to other schools, which can have morning and afternoon shifts to acomodate
all children.

The name fixed to the Earthquake as “South Asian Earthquake” is itself deceptive in my opinion as major devastation is suffered by Pakistan and Pakistan administered Kashmir where the epicenter was. And Pakistan has yet to deal with growing crisis of settlements of thousands of refugees, their safekeeping, and food. Where the beautiful standing North of hundreds of years is ruined and completely wiped off, it needs to be rebuilt. But the overwhelming pressure of sheltering a huge population without roof is the main intention at hand. It is obvious that pressure will sooner or later be shifted to large cities as Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad as there seems no turning back for moment. As far as media coverage is concerned at peak hours of earthquake CNN showed its disregard and it was not shown as a Major Natural Disaster hit at present census. But the US/Iraq elections took more time than a catastrophe of such big scale. Thus Pakistan couldn’t get enough attention as Tsunami victims got at proper time. At that time too the concern was mainly on missing European citizens in the chaos then littering populations of the islands streets. It is a good time to see efforts of NGOs, Army and Religious organization and mostly people of Pakistan at the same platform. Where MQM is shown to take the lead on a political party hemisphere and that is a media pretense if observe carefully.
The help for the victims is not to be done at one stage but it should be a continuous process at a long run and it should be premeditated where the next pressure line is drifted due to this huge collision as studies have revealed that next probable earthquake location can be highlighted in this chain process but not the time determination.
The rule of circumstances is to keep a contiuous help process as its not enough to be urgent just!

Pakistanis should stop complaining about everything. US or any country is under no obligation to help. Instead of running down others contributions try to understand the value of that irrespective of the size of the donation.

/*#31 by harimau on November 14, 2005 4:54pm PT
Zeena,

Have you considered contacting US physicians from South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka) through any AMA networks that may exist to see whether they can raise medical supplies for your efforts? I am sure they would respond positively. */

Thats very true. Pakistanis need not feel any sense of shame to approach their neighbours.
Indian doctors can do a great work if they are pemitted. Its the people`s lives thats important and not your false sense of pride.

Looks like the jihadies struck again, this time in Karachi killing a bunch of people (presumably muslim) and injuring many more. Just a few days back, they killed a bunch of people in Delhi. How long are we going to tolerate this nonsense? I hope the Pakistani people can finally take a stand and end these Lashkar-e-this and Jaish-e-that organizations from their soil. The policy of a thousand cuts against India has become a thousand cuts against Pakistan as well. These organizations will never benefit Pakistan but rather drag it down.

Ah, another earthquake piece. Romair bhai-jan, it is 9:00 am in the morning in Karachi and we just heard a massive blast from Shareton Hotel. The skies are clogged with smoke. Any idea what might have caused this blast?

Urstruly #33: ``Lets face it. The 80% of all the relief that came to Pakistan was either donated by governments of Islamic countries or even more so by the people of those Islamic countries who have sent their aid thru Muslim and Islamic charities and relief organizations.``

This is both true and untrue....In ratio to size of economies, this is probably true.

However, overall, I believe the most help has come from your country, the USA. I think the total amount of money, is around $130 million. And then another $43 million raised by the people. But most of all, the biggest help have been Chinook and Blackhawk helicopters. Pakistan would have been in big trouble, without these helicopters........

After the USA, and in proportions to overall ecnomies of the countries, no doubt the most help has come from Muslim countries. Turkey gave $150 million. Saudi Arabia $133 million, plus around $40 million raised by Saudi citizens. And UAE gave $100 million. Kuwait, I believe, gave $100 million for Katrina. So I hope they gave at least the same here....

I think the USA will score a lot of points for goodwill in the areas. This is what the USA should be doing, if it wants to reach the, ``hearts and minds`` of Muslims. Instead of spending $300 billion in bombing Iraq. The USA will probably give a lot more. It has a lot invested in Musharraf.

I think Pakistanis will have moved closer to the Middle Eastern Muslim countries also. After seeing the amount of money and time they have invested in this tragedy..........

Two excellent posts at #25 and # 26 by Romair. I salute you sir :-)

urstruly: It is good to note that countries like Turkey, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia have come to our help in a great way. However, it is not a wise thing to keep challenging others who have not shown generosity. We can`t continue to earn enimity of other countries at a time when our real and only enemy (extremist element from neighboring country who is running hate Muslim and hate Pakistan campaign all over the world) is out in full force to harm us at each and every fora. At the specific time when we needed western sympathy, this enemy has played its card and have slapped us with another `aid to terrorists` charge without any evidence in an attempt to paint us in the black. Now do you suggest that we go out there and start taking `Punga` with the west on not helping us and earn its animosity, precisely what this enemy wants west to do with us?

Re: # 33

Yeah, just saw flying camels medivacing the injured on Al-Jazeera TV, and there are so many Arabs and Mooslem paramedics setting up all kinds of clinics in the devastated areas.

Pakistan should be grateful for Turk’s generosity, but Turks don’t consider themselves to be part of one big bad Ummah.

Urstruly, do you have any stats on how many Medical stations have the Ummah (specially the Arabs) set up in Kashmir? Thanks. And if it is not too much work, let us know how many White Infidel Medic teams are working in the region. Thanks again.

Also, how many Arbi helicopter are flying in the area helping with vacating the people. I know the Kafir United States has 24 choppers fyling 14 hours, with some 900 personnel. I am not aware of any Arbi man (or woman without suicide belt) present in the region. If you have any information, I would like to hear about it. Many thanks.

Lets face it. The 80% of all the relief that came to Pakistan was either donated by governments of Islamic countries or even more so by the people of those Islamic countries who have sent their aid thru Muslim and Islamic charities and relief organizations. THis shows despite the shamless efforts of vassals of west and enemies of God in our country who could do nothing but use the media to promote themselves. This must tell Pakistanis who cares abouts us. It is only our Muslim brothers and sisters spread across God`s green earth who have felt our pain and helped without giving a second thought whether it is good for PR or not. This has put a garam aalu on infidels behind because looking at our ruling class they thought that the Pakistani nation would also be as spineless, heartless, lathargic, and apathetic towards our fellow citizens. But they were sadly mistaken. WE have showed them alright. This self awareness is our first infant step to win freedom and soverienity and get rid of the corrupt ruling class and military that has oppressed us inhumanly so far. This tells us that, we will win because God is on our side.

#31 harimau
Thats a very good suggestion. I think they are already helping. But, anyways, i will make sure they are being asked for help................

Zeena,

Have you considered contacting US physicians from South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka) through any AMA networks that may exist to see whether they can raise medical supplies for your efforts? I am sure they would respond positively.

Keep up your good work. There is a special place reserved for people like you in Allah`s heart.

I believe human catastrophy at such an extreme magnitude , all nations become international,ie. all humans one and united. No question of race/ nations or country.
To ask for help for saving life, (rahter than dying helplessly) becomes your prime right, just like standing up for your rights. It will be sin not to ask for help.

Besides that it becomes obligation for all humans to help those in need . After all, all of us share the same planet, called The Earth..............

But compared to the generosity witnessed after the Tsunami, the world’s response has been miserly. The Tsunami catalysed 10 billion dollars in disaster relief for its victims – about what the United States Senate proposed for Katrina’s victims, $10.5 billion (to which President Bush committed a further $51.8 on September 7.)

In contrast, Pakistan has received only $630 million so far, of at least 5 billion dollars urgently needed. The press talks about “donor fatigue” with disaster after disaster this past year. There may also be unease about giving money to a nuclear-armed, military-led nation unable to contain the religious militancy breeding within its borders.

---

Has author confused herself into believing that Kashmir..er..Pakistan....err South East Asia a state of the United states of America? for which President Bush should have pledged 52 billion dollars as he did in another state of america, Lousiana?

Re: # 1
manto
can you give me details, i may be able to help.

my email: aslam644@yahoo.co.uk

Re: # 25

Dear Romair:

Thank you for the long drawn out response.

If the living are already being relocated then why ask for money help? Why are they not asking for massive helicopter fleet? These are simple logical questions.

Is Imran Khan coming over here to ask for money or helicopters?

[You may want to go a bit easy on the rhetoric.] Of course, I would. But I do not see any common sense coming out from the present Pakistani administration.

[While it is upto Americans and others to give or not to give, as much as they want. It is not upto them to ridicule any efforts, domestically, that are going on to assist earthquake victims. Any foreigner who does so is crossing the line............]

Being an American, and a person who was born in Pakistan, I have some rights, I suppose. And besides, if someone comes over here with his ``kushkol`` for handouts, then I will wonder what is going on? Remember, I am logical and there are many ways to skin the cat, so to speak.

[Rest assured quite a few Pakistanis, civilian and military are working day and night to assist in relocating people.]

Then, why do we always see westerners and here about westerners. As, I had asked you on the other board, and you chose not to reply is that 1% of Pakistani expats net asset value of $100 Billion, would easily get them $1 Billion.

And where is this request?

[If you have ever been to that area you will know that it is impossible to relocate people in much of that area, without a massive large scale helicopter fleet. Which no other country, than the USA, possesses.] Then, why are the paindoos not asking for that?

[There are soldiers, literally, carrying people on their backs, to relocate them. There are helicopter pilots flying 12 hours a day, in some of the most dangerous terrians in the world.]

So they have all the helicopters needed, correct?

[ And there are doctors working without sleep in those areas.] All, I hear is western doctors, etc. Are these Pakistani doctors?


[The way Pakistanis of all types, rushed into Kashmir, after the earthquake, was unprecendented.] Then, that is admirable. What is the complaint? Why this article?

[I didn`t see anyone rushing into New Orleans, after Katrina. Or in various other disasters.]
You must be on a different channel. Were you glued on Geo TV or Ary or whatever?


[On the whole, I would say the Pakistanis in Pakistan have done quite a bit more to relocate Kashmiris, than any of us have done. Based on that, I think one should either lead, follow or get out of the way, i.e. one should either help or keep quiet and not badmouth people who are helping and working............]

And this is where your paindoo mentality show glaringly. If someone knocks at the door, I will ask tough questions. And honest people will have to respond honestly.

[I personally think, the reaction to this earthquake, from all Pakistanis, was Pakistan`s (of all types and professions) finest hour..] Great. Now what? Why the kushkol then?

[ At least, in my lifetime. All the myths about Pakistan being divided along ethnic and religious lines have been sent to their graves. Karachi has nothing to do with Kashmir, helped the most!! ] Good for Pakistan....Great. Now what? Why the kushkol then?

[The Pakistani English press has tried to belittle this. But I think they have been unsuccessful. ] There you go again. And this web site is in Urdu I suppose. Are you nuts?

[I think the money received, from other countries` will be proportional to the money received for other earthquakes, like Gujurat, Turkey and Iran.] Ok....Now you are coming to some logical thinking...Great. Now what? Why the kushkol then?

[ In the end, Pakistanis will have to handle this, themselves. And I think they will do fine...........] And that is exactly what most of the posts are suggesting. Pakistan should be able to handle themselves....Great. Now what? Why the kushkol then?

[I don`t know a single person in Pakistan, from my very old father, to my siblings (to me), to my friends in the Army who are flying choppers, to my friends in the Air Force who are flying C-130s, to my civilian doctor friends, to the media, to entertainers, to big business houses, to maulvis to anyone else, who hasn`t done something......... ]

Great. Now what? Why the kushkol then?

[Do let me know of any other disaster, where literally every person one knows did something to help.........Not just sending 100 dollars to Oxfam, but physically helping.............] And how may I ask, over 150 million people get there physically to help?

You must be on to something. And I wonder what is it?

Respectfully submitted,

Whether Maha`s jar in the USA is empty or full, in the big scheme of things, doesn`t matter much. Because there are quite a few Mahas in Pakistan, whose donation jars are getting filled. And that is where Pakistan`s strength in dealing with this earthquake will come from...............

The English press in Pakistan and English websites (including this one) spend far too much chasing invisible religious ghosts in Pakistan, and looking towards what the West does and does not do for Pakistan, as a criteria for how well Pakistan is doing in any sphere. Having read the Pakistani English press extensively, and having known some of the writers and an odd editor or two, I have always felt these individuals are far too enamoured with the West. In that sense, they suffer from somewhat of an inferiority complex.

It is incorrect to guage Pakistan`s success in handling this earthquake from what people in the West, or outside Pakistan, are doing. When, in fact, they should be looking at the average Urdu/Punjabi/Sindhi etc. speaking Pakistani, who cannot speak English and has never been to the West and see what he is doing for this earthquake.........

I will even go to the extent that, after the initial emergencies are handled, it will be good for Pakistan if it is forced to handle the expenses of reconstruction for this earthquake internally. It will force Pakistan to readjust its budget allocations, and fix its priorities. If the aid just comes in from abroad, it will be business, as usual.

In fact, Pakistan has made the most progress in areas, when it has been forced to, domestically, solve its problems, based on the strengths and weaknesses of its own people...........

Behram1 #24: ``Why can`t Pakistan relocate the living to warmer temperatures?``

You may want to go a bit easy on the rhetoric. While it is upto Americans and others to give or not to give, as much as they want. It is not upto them to ridicule any efforts, domestically, that are going on to assist earthquake victims. Any foreigner who does so is crossing the line............

Rest assured quite a few Pakistanis, civilian and military are working day and night to assist in relocating people. If you have ever been to that area you will know that it is impossible to relocate people in much of that area, without a massive large scale helicopter fleet. Which no other country, than the USA, possesses.

There are soldiers, literally, carrying people on their backs, to relocate them. There are helicopter pilots flying 12 hours a day, in some of the most dangerous terrians in the world. And there are doctors working without sleep in those areas.

The way Pakistanis of all types, rushed into Kashmir, after the earthquake, was unprecendented. I didn`t see anyone rushing into New Orleans, after Katrina. Or in various other disasters.

On the whole, I would say the Pakistanis in Pakistan have done quite a bit more to relocate Kashmiris, than any of us have done. Based on that, I think one should either lead, follow or get out of the way, i.e. one should either help or keep quiet and not badmouth people who are helping and working............

I personally think, the reaction to this earthquake, from all Pakistanis, was Pakistan`s (of all types and professions) finest hour. At least, in my lifetime. All the myths about Pakistan being divided along ethnic and religious lines have been sent to their graves. Karachi has nothing to do with Kashmir, helped the most!!

The Pakistani English press has tried to belittle this. But I think they have been unsuccessful.

I think the money received, from other countries` will be proportional to the money received for other earthquakes, like Gujurat, Turkey and Iran. In the end, Pakistanis will have to handle this, themselves. And I think they will do fine...........I don`t know a single person in Pakistan, from my very old father, to my siblings (to me), to my friends in the Army who are flying choppers, to my friends in the Air Force who are flying C-130s, to my civilian doctor friends, to the media, to entertainers, to big business houses, to maulvis to anyone else, who hasn`t done something.........

Do let me know of any other disaster, where literally every person one knows did something to help.........Not just sending 100 dollars to Oxfam, but physically helping.............

Re: # 20

Dear malikjahanzeb:

You are 100% correct.

Pakistanis could learn from the US and Katrina, when almost 2.0Million people were relocated within weeks.

Why can`t Pakistan relocate the living to warmer temperatures?

Because the paindoos do not want the Chanda to stop rolling in, I suppose.

Respectfully submitted,

veeresh said: ``What little internal media there is in Pakistan can be divided into neat little self-interest groups, to my knowledge and experience. Their credibility is close to zilch internationally. ``

no offense veeresh but i think what is zilch here is your knowledge of the pakistani media

veeresh said: ``What little internal media there is in Pakistan can be divided into neat little self-interest groups, to my knowledge and experience. Their credibility is close to zilch internationally. ``

no offense veeresh but i think what is zilch here is your knowledge of the pakistani media

Re: # 10

Dear traveller:

Harimau has already provided a response in #14.

You must also take some responsibilty. Just saying that [One basic thing you fail to understand - the general public does not love support and admire these extremist murderers....] is not enough.

There are still 25% of Pakistanis who think suicide bombing is justified. How long does it take for this administartion to clean up Pakistan. They have been in power for over 6 years....and they can not clean up their own created mess.

Give me a break.

I agree with you that ...[but getting such a poor response from the world is likely to radicalise those who have lost their families and everything in their lives. ] Yes, and that is the scary part.

But, most westerners know by now that those who are asking are corrupt to the teeth. Besides, why are there no muslim countries helping. Saudi Arabia has just announced that it will be providing over $1 Billion for Iraq reconstruction package.

What is the difference between the two reconstruction packages? It is the Pakistani administration that is the difference, I suppose.

Is this one more strategy for the Pakistani administration to pocket donor money. Why aren`t there major non-governmental organization helping people?

Keep searching your inner soul and there you will find an answer.

Respectfully submitted,

There is no moral claim that people of pakistan can raise about how much aid they are getting. Poeple in the rest of the world are not their Chacha Mamaa who have an obligation to send aid. Lets have some dignity fellow country men.

I am not saying that calling for aid and relief is a bad idea. We should do it more often than not but expectations and complaining is a bad thing. I mean, poor poeple who are brainwashed by the religion and now the rhetoric of the mullah view the west as an evil thing. Sure its not their fault to be such way, but neither is the earthquake west`s fault. Soverign nations are free choose whethre to help or not.

I think there should be a policy of encouraging and training the local people so that they should not keeping lying on ground waiting for the angel of death of arrive, but start doing something smart. These are human beings are are capable of much more than the beasts of the wilderness. A disaster always brings an upsurge in motivation and ability to cop with it. The intelligent minds should devise ways to direct the local people do whatever they can to help the situation themselves and save lives.

Human mind is capable of great things if right path is followed.

#8 by amansandhu
Thanks for your compliments.
Here is more so, far......
The Social Welfare and Disaster Relief Committee pf APPNA continues to work for the earthquake victims in Pakistan. No doubt some of you are aware of the relief work we have done so far. Below is a brief list of what we have been able to deliver. Highlights of APPNA`s efforts 1. Over $1 million has been raised in USA and monies have already been donated to work with the relief operations. 2. APPNA Sehat in Pakistan has been receiving continuous reinforcement of relief funds. 3. PIMA initially received $ 15,000 4. 250 all weather tents were sent out from Chicago very early on. 5. Oklahoma Chapter of APPNA has arranged for 1400 tents to be distributed either by Rotary Club in Pakistan or Edhi Foundation. 6. APPNA Surgical and Medical Teams have been on the ground and surgeries have been performed in Mansehra and PIMS Islamabad. 7. Three surgical suites were opened up and equipped by APPNA at PIMS 8. Two pneumatic drills for surgeries were purchased in Karachi by APPNA and delivered to hospitals that had requested them. 9. Every flight that goes to Pakistan with APPNA physicians carries supplies including medicines and high technology supplies. 10. Three warehouses in USA have been set up Houston, New York and Chicago which receive and at times repackage the supplies to improve the assortment and consolidate the weight to carrying limits. As of the 26th October the following supplies had been sent to Pakistan. 1. Two boxes of Orthopedic trays sent from Chicago for AMC on 10/15/05. 2. Four Anesthesia Machines sent to Ayub Medical Complex. Two of those will be sent to Field hospital in Mozaffarabad. Value $ 200,000?. Eight more anesthesia machines and ventilators are on the way to Pakistan. 3. Orthopedic equipment and supplies sent to Ayub Medical Complex in 41 boxes weighing 700 lbs on 10/22/05, which was received at Shifa & distributed further. Value: 500,000. 4. Surgical, Medical & Orthopedic equipment sent on 10/25/05 from Chicago contained in 26 boxes & weighing 700 lbs. This will be distributed to PIMS, Shifa & AMC. Value: $200,000-$300,000? 5.Five Boxes sent on 10/22/05 & eighty boxes on 10/23/05 accompanied by team of physicians travelling to Pakistan. This contained antibiotics, sutures and other surgical supplies. Value of Antibiotics alone was $15,000. Other could not be determined. 6. A pneumatic drill was purchased as a donation to Ayub Medical Complex for $20,000. 7. A donation of 36 external fixator sets & two hand drills to be received from the distributer who sold the Pneumatic drill and is to be sent to PIMS.(waiting confirmation). 8. Two boxes of sutures, plates & orthopedic equipment sent to Islamabad on 10/22 with a physician from Chicago. Destined to go to one of the hospitals treating victims of earthquake. (I will find out in a day or two as to where exactly did it go) Value $50,000? 9. A donation of Surgical & Orthopedic equipment weighing $300 lbs sent courtesy of John Hopkins`s Via APPNA to Ayub Medical Complex. The equipment was donated by Smith & Nephew. Valued at a two hundred thousand dollars (200,000). 9. A shipment of Supplies was sent by Smith & Nephews on on 10/26/05 to our warehouse in NY worth (Value to be disclosed). This will be sent to PIMS & Shifa on 10/28/05. 10. Five C-arms are being purchased (re-furbished ones)and one each is being shipped to RMC,PIMS,Shifa,Polyclinic Hospital in Islamabad and one to INOR in Abbotabad. . 11. We have a commitment from a Pakistani husband and wife team to begin the rehabilitative work with prosthetics for a period of up to three years. It was their faith in APPNA that caused them to volunteer with us. 12. A complete field hospital awaits shipment from USA. 13. The supplies of antibiotics, analgesics, antipyretics, sterilizing supplies are too many to detail but they are leaving by all air flights available to us. 14. Fed Ex has allowed APPNA one hundred boxes per week free to be shipped anywhere in USA for relief purposes. We have three warehouses Houston, New York and Chicago where most of the supplies are stored. 15. EC has approved a lap top computer for inventory control in Islamabad 16. 250 tents have been delivered in Pakistan 17. Purchase of one Container for 280 wheel chairs has been approved, NE Chapter has donated one container of 280 wheel chairs. APPNA has also approved 280 wheel chair. Distribution is via Rotary in Islamabad. 18. APPNA has approved up to 5 C arms included 19. Dr. Arshad Hussain, world authority is giving 3 seminars of trauma and psychological sequelae. APPNA is co sponsoring this seminar. 20. US$10,000 has been approved by EC to purchase surgical nails, screws for tibia and femur for use in Abbotabad ( Dr Amjad Gulzar Shaikh). Sincerely, Dr. Javed Akhtar Chair, Social Welfare and Disaster Relief Committee 2005

Re: # 14

Dear harimau:

You are correct in your assessment of certain segment of Pakistan.

[Search your souls first before you ask why the world does not respond to Pak pleas for help.] And believe me most of Pakistanis are doing just that. The latest pew results shows that acceptance of suicide bombers have gone down to 25% from a year ago when it was 41%. And yes, we have to make it go to 0%. Then, and only then, Pakistan will be respected. Not only that Pakistan must have pro-US demonstration and show love for Americans, as it once did when John F. Kennedy was shot, when Karachi went in to three day mourning.

[Then make a public committment such actions will not be tolerated.] You are 100% correct. Pakistani military regime must be bold and fearless in this regard. What sort of a military is it anyway?

[After all, if the US with its freedom of speech guarantee can outlaw hate speeches, Pakistan can do it too.] Agreed wholeheartedly. Pakistan should grow up and outlaw hate speeches by everyone. And give the severest form of punishment.

[Pakistanis deserve to live and to live a decent life.] Yes, Kulharee, I say Amen to that.

Thank you for such an inspirational post.

Respectfully submitted,

Re: # 12

Dear Kulharee:

You are absolutely right in your post.

One of my American friend was asking me similar question. Where are those muslims of the world? and why are they not helping out their fellow muslim?

I had no answer.

Respectfully submitted,

Dear Ras:

Regretfully, I must also inform readers of your post that Mr. Imran Khan, it seems comes around US and collects donations for all kinds of events. Then, he goes back to Pakistan and makes vitriolic anti-US statements. This behavior should not be accepted by all US tax-paying Pakistani-Americans.

This particular behavior of Mr. Imran Khan made news in the US media, and it is really shameful.

I sincerely hope that this person, who wants American dollars, would also remain dignified wherever he is.

Respectfully submitted,

Beena
Unfortunate truth is that ``world does not care...``. I think reason is due to image that Kashmir and Pakistan has acquired during last few decades. Whenever these areas are in news than it is not for some accomplishment but due to some accident, calamity or misfortune. Last two days had ``violence in gilgit`` and ``Mobs burn churches``.

Pakistan is not being singled out for such treatment. Angola, Somalia and Congo also went through same treatment.

Ref traveller #10

[Harimau
Tragic & shameful as was the incident of Daniel Pearl`s murder and such incidents as well as the Jihadi groups operating in Pakistan you surely cannot be suggesting that those poor innocent children and villagers had anything to do with that?]

Anytime the Pak Establishment wanted it they could turn the faucet off for jihadi funding. Don`t tell me the Pak Establishment is a respecter of human rights: put the thumbscrews on the fellows already in the pay of the ISI and you would have the entire jihadi network identified inside a week.

So long as you don`t do that, people like me will have the right to point out what ``collateral damage`` means. It is not just the shoppers who got killed in New Delhi the day before Deepavali; it is also the women and children of Kashmir.

How about letting IAF helicopters fly in relief supplies directly to Gilgit and places like that? You guys just don`t want your 55 years of propaganda about big bad Hindus proved wrong, do you?

[And you may hate Mush and all Pakistanis (as seen from your comments throughout this site) but surely you have some tiny speck of humanity left in you.]

Cold-blooded analysis does look heartless but truth sets you free. After which, you can cry buckets, send money, etc. But you have to understand the underlying cause. You have a country that has been blackmailing the US into paying for military hardware but has zero leverage when it comes to economic aid. How do you think the Average Alan in America is going to react when he hears that the country that sold gas centrifuges to Iran and nuclear bomb design to Libya is now pleading for help? And that constant ``Death to the Great Satan America`` chants from screaming mobs, bombings of consulates, killing of US businessmen: you think people should ignore all that? What is the guarantee that after massive help for earthquake relief, the Pak Establishment will suddenly turn benign and be the Sweden of South Asia?

[One basic thing you fail to understand - the general public does not love support and admire these extremist murderers....]

That is not the picture the world gets when they see on TV your children mindlessly rocking back and forth in front of a copy of the Koran.

[but getting suchg a poor response from the world is likely to radicalise those who have lost their families and everything in their lives.]

They will be RECRUITED by the Pak Establishment as cannon fodder; they won`t be volunteering. Don`t try this line of blackmail.

[What about the number of people killed by the Maoist rebels in India. They number in the thousands do they not? Just as lethal really except they are killing exclusively their own country people whereas Jihadi groups kill both their own people and outsiders....truly these disgusting pakis dont deserve to live according to your mindset.]

The Maoist rebels should be ruthlessly hunted and killed to the last. Entire areas should be declared free-fire zones, and people inside allowed to surrender so that innocent persons will come to no harm but Maoists will be killed whether they surrender or not. Manmohan Singh the Neutered doeesn`t have the cojones to do that and anyway the Communists in India have a tight hold on his langot.

Search your souls first before you ask why the world does not respond to Pak pleas for help. Then make a public committment such actions will not be tolerated. After all, if the US with its freedom of speech guarantee can outlaw hate speeches, Pakistan can do it too.

Pakistanis deserve to live and to live a decent life. You all just have to figure out that constant hate from your side does not inspire generosity in the reverse direction.

OPEN Earthquake Relief Fundraiser featuring Imran Khan Friday Nov. 18 in San Jose

Dear Friends,

We invite you to join us on the evening of November 18th for a fundraiser benefiting the survivors of the South Asian Earthquake and featuring Imran Khan, former Test Cricket Captain, Founder of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, and Member of the Pakistan National Assembly. As you know over 80,000 lives have been lost, 3.3 million people have been made homeless, and over 100,000 lives are at high risk as the Himalayan winter arrives in the devastated region in just weeks. The most important needs by far are shelter and medical supplies.
The aim of the event is to raise funds for specific relief and rehabilitation initiatives launched by Imran Khan and the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital (founded by Imran). The two focal points are:

1. SHELTER & FOOD
- Tent Cities have been established in Mansera, Dader, and Muzafarabad
- Approx 800 tents in total in the above cities have been already set up.
- In addition to the above, 400 tents have been distributed in other areas.
- Another 1200 tents have been ordered and are planned to be deployed in these tent cities
- Food for all residents of the tent cities for the next 2 – 3 months
- Permanent housing will be developed in these areas as soon as the weather permits.

2. MEDICAL AID
- Surgical/medical teams from Shaukat Khanum are already working in Abbottabad with planned follow up stints in collaboration with other hospitals
- A Primary care hospital is to be setup near Bagh for six months.
- Plans are underway to open more hospitals in other areas as well.
The event is being sponsored and organized by HDF (Human Development Fund), TCF (The Citizen’s Foundation), TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs), ICC (Indian Community Center), and OPEN (Org. of Pakistani Entrepreneurs):

Date and Time:
Friday, November 18, 2005
7:30pm - 10:30pm

Venue:
Corinthian Room at the Silicon Valley Capital Club and Athletic Club
196 N. Third Street
San Jose, CA 95113
www.sanjoseclub.com

Evening Program:
- Arrival of Guests: 7:30 - 8:00pm
- Dinner: 7:50p - 8:30pm
- Welcome & Presentation: 8:20pm - 8:40pm
- Video: 8:40 - 8:45pm
- Speech by Imran Khan 8:45 – 9:15pm
- Fundraising: 9:15 – 9:45pm
- Imran Khan - Meet and Greet: 9:45 - 10:45pm

Event Goals:
1. Fundraising
- All donations will be tax deductible i.e.will go to a 501C3 organization
- Corporate Matching will go to the corporations’ approved charities not to Imran Khan Project
- Funds collected at event (excluding corporate match) will go to the Imran Khan Foundation for Shelter and Medical Relief for the South Asian Earthquake
- ALL money raised (net event cost) will go to South Asian Earthquake Relief.
2. Raising awareness of the Earthquake among the broader Silicon Valley community
3. Enabling Local Media Coverage of the South Asian Earthquake

Tickets:
Individual Guest: $100
Corporate Table: 10 seats for $2000
Patron Table (Individuals buying a table): 10 seats at $2000

Online ticket purchase is available. Payment can also be made by check and/or cash: Go to www.opensiliconvalley.com for details; email Asiya Merchant with any questions: Asiya.merchant@citigroup.com

About Imran Khan:
Imran Khan is seen as Pakistan`s finest ever Cricket all-rounder and, along with Garfield Sobers, Kapil Dev, and Ian Botham, one of the greatest of all time. He made his Test debut against England at Birmingham in 1971 at the age of 18 In the same year, he made his ODI debut also against England at Nottingham. He captained his country for 48 matches. In first-class cricket, he took more than 1000 wickets at an average of 22.32 runs per wicket.

Khan went to school in Lahore and then attended the Royal Grammar School Worcester and Keble College, Oxford where he was also Captain of the Oxford University Cricket team in 1974. He comes from a cricketing family with two of his cousins Javed Burke and Majid Khan also having played test cricket for Pakistan.

Since retiring from Pakistani Test cricket, Khan has been devoting most of his time to the Shaukat Khannum Memorial Hospital, a state-of-the-art charitable Cancer Hospital that he established using donations in Lahore. He has also started a socio-political movement in Pakistan known as `Tehrik-i-Insaf` or `Movement for Justice` and ran for office in the National Elections. He became a Member of Parliament for Mianwali in the October 2002 elections.

Amongst his honors include being awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 1993 by the Pakistani government, Honorary Fellow of Keble College, Oxford and Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1983. He captained the Pakistani cricket team to victory in the 1992 cricket World Cup.

How filled were the Jars in Maha’s class in Karachi when Tsunami or the Hurricane struck?

Last night a segment on 60 Minutes showed a bunch of Paramedics from NYC working in the remote EQ hit areas, where no Pakistani medics or Military rescuers were to be seen. Where 60% of the population still believes that 9/11 was a Jewish doing, don’t be surprised over the empty Jars, sooner or later someone will come up with the same rotten theory that it were Jews who stole money from the Jars. Stay tuned.

This piece is particularly insensitive in light of the fact that Americans are doing more than the rest of the world combined in relief efforts. If only a few wealthy Pakistanis broke their Bakree-Banks (Piggy Bank is Haram) to help the EQ victims, no one will be looking for foreign Jars.

Lack of accountability is certainly a major reason why the international donors are shying away from cash donations. I think the Pakistanis have to look to themselves in order to come up iwth the necessary resources for re-habilitation and re-construction. We would be better of utilising our energies to put our own house in order and tightening our belts (at all levels and not only the common man) rather than blaming the international community.

Harimau
Tragic & shameful as was the incident of Daniel Pearl`s murder and such incidents as well as the Jihadi groups operating in Pakistan you surely cannot be suggesting that those poor innocent children and villagers had anything to do with that?
And you may hate Mush and all Pakistanis (as seen from your comments throughout this site) but surely you have some tiny speck of humanity left in you. One basic thing you fail to understand - the general public does not love support and admire these extremist murderers....but getting suchg a poor response from the world is likely to radicalise those who have lost their families and everything in their lives.
What about the number of people killed by the Maoist rebels in India. They number in the thousands do they not? Just as lethal really except they are killing exclusively their own country people whereas Jihadi groups kill both their own people and outsiders....truly these disgusting pakis dont deserve to live according to your mindset.

The world might be a bit more responsive if the collection boxes had a picture of victims.

May I suggest a photo of Daniel Pearl with his throat cut?

Zeena,
your husband and you did a commendable job, bravo.
if every pakistani donate rs50 each in pakistan a lot of money can be raised.

`For weeks she’s pounced on all the small change from grocery shopping and deposited her pocket money into the ‘hurricane jar’ in her classroom.`

Yaar, is there such a thing as `pocket money`? kaka has read so much about these stipends little kids get for godknowswhat.. especially from mothers who are busy reporting while raising kids. kaka used to have to beg for money everyday and was explained that.. `agar aap ko maheenay kay maheenay pocket money day dee jaee tau, for the rest of the month, aap apni ammi ko peechat muR kay bhi na daikhaiN gay..`

Anyways, kaka thinks that these `pocket money` mentionings are just a prelude to the rest of `shaming of the non-donors` essay. Unless kaka sees the receipts about these `pocket moneys`, they are a urban legends like opera lovers and Oprah haters.

Beena Sarwar
My husband is the current Appna president , NJ chapter, he worked day and night to arrange for this fund raiser. His efforts succeeded and we were able to raise $ 100,000 in one night during eid dinner.

I donated $22,000 out of my own pocket out of my personal savings. God will give me health to work harder for their future help. Inshallah.

Bravo,Appna NJ eid dinner raised $100,000 11/12/05 in one night.

The executive committee of Appna NJ chapter and it`s president raised $ 100,000 in cash for earthquake victims(besides, $22,000 donated by President of NJ chapter out of pocket which will be spent in December for homes construction) during Eid dinner at Royal Albert Palace NJ, and donated Medicine(2000 doses of Tetanus Toxoids), Approximatley, $28,000 were contributed by th ephysicians and employees of Barnabas Health care system, and the drive still continues. Most impressive were the teenagers there who contributedTHE from their savings and pocket money. Malahar and Javed entertained the attendees in to the wee hours of the night. Malahar donated their time for the evening.The program was covered by Geo TV. Slides and Video clips to follow. You can also see the news clips on Geo TV tomorrow.

Beena Sarwar
Now, I am giving this news. Sadly, majority of chowkies discourage such media coverage. They think in their own lil minds that I am bragging.
When, you have the intentions of spreading the good deeds like this, which we really need at this moment, God loves such acts of open kindness and mass advertisement.
You raised very good points. Thanks for bringing this up. We need this at this time of trouble. We are going to arrange same earthquake reunion and dinner donation fund raisers in December in Islamabad Pakistan.........................

The rather indifferent response to Earthquake is on two accounts. The earthquakes do not create sensation like Tsunami or for that matter even Volcanic Eruptions. The earthquakes happen every now and then so the world so the world remains indifferent. Second thing is that South-east Asia does not figure prominently in the world map. At best it is seen as poor and dirty place where people die often and on due to epedemics, riots and other internal violence and conflicts. It is unlikely that the world is going to do more than what it has already done for the quake victims. The resources required for rehabilitating the quake victims will have to be arranged by Pakistan itself internally. There seems to be no other alternative.

Media reportage on the Kashmir earthquake is not something that can exist in isolation.

For decades, large parts of Pakistan have been absolutely out of bounds for external and neighbouring media, leave alone visitors. How do you expect them to suddenly form the required lines of service delivery?

What little internal media there is in Pakistan can be divided into neat little self-interest groups, to my knowledge and experience. Their credibility is close to zilch internationally.

Another reason for the media follow-up and subsequent high level of aid post-Tsunami was the direct involvement of the world media in being part of an audit on how the aid was being spent. Can you point out something similar in Pakistan please? Most foreign media soft-pedal around the misuse of aid and most Pakistani media try to tone down the realities of misuse of air, if not apologising for pointing it out.

To blame the world for Pakistan`s problems is something which the world has now got tired off. Please look within and fix your own house before wondering why others are giving it a wide berth.

(For the usual shouting brigade, please try to ignore my nationality and respond only on the points raised, especially the regular suspects?)

Even with the pathetic coverage recently, the emphasis is on Kashmir. What about the devastated villages of the NWFP? Even the BBC website has Kashmir Relief, because it`s so attractive - NWFP is an unkown and Balakot mourns alone.

Abdul Hafeez, a young Kashmiri man, is known to me for over 6 months or so.

His family has suffered a major loss ... all their houses and belongings have been destroyed. He wants to reconstruct his house but hasn`t received any aid because his village is located north of Rawalakot.

If you can help please contact me.