The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF) has confirmed the approval of $500,000 in assistance for the rain-affected areas of Sindh, according to an official statement from the welfare organisation. The announcement was made on Monday after a Gates Foundation delegation called on Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah at the Chief Minister’s House, where the latter highlighted the plight of the rain-affected people and appreciated the organisation’s philanthropic endeavour. The charity foundation’s funding will be used as a cash transfer – a decision based on the preliminary assessment and assistance provided by the government and other sectors, the chief minister was informed at the meeting.
Around 4,200 rain-affected people will be provided cash grant – an amount of Rs 10,000 each. The transactions would be made through ATM cards, which will be generated through the NADRA database of the calamity-hit areas. The project would be initiated in the Umerkot district and later on, other rain-hit districts like Sanghar, Nosheroferoz, Badin and Thatta will also be included in the programme.
On behalf of the provincial government, Planning and Development Additional Chief Secretary Israr Malik signed the cash transfer documents. The meeting was also attended by B&MGF country representative Waqar Ajmal, MNA Dr Azra Pechuho, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shahbaz Wazir Ali, Board of Revenue Senior Member Shahzar Shazir, Secretary to Chief Minister Alamuddin Bullo, Education Secretary Muhammad Siddiq Memon and Finance Secretary Muhammad Naveed Kamran Baloch among others.
Bill to the rescue: Sindh gets $500,000 from Gates’ charity
