Speech of the Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane MLC in NSW

The 2008 global financial crisis hit Pakistan hard with the Government urgently seeking more than $100 billion in aid in order to avoid possible bankruptcy. Aid was not forthcoming and Pakistan relied on more aggressive fiscal policies. Although the economic crisis is easing, the catastrophic rain and monsoon floods had devastated the Pakistani economy even further.

The United Nations General Secretary Mr Ban Ki-moon described the Pakistani flood as "heart wrenching". It was destruction on a scale that no-one has seen before with untold impact on 20 million people. At least 2,000 people have died and around 750,000 homes have been destroyed or badly damaged. Health experts warn that hundreds more will die from the threat of epidemics in flood-hit areas. The World Health Organisation has estimated that more than 10 million people are either suffering or at risk of infection, including cholera and diarrhoea, from drinking unsafe water. Many of those people would be children. Around 6 million people require immediate food aid and millions more are affected by public health issues as a result of this natural disaster.

The flooding began more than two weeks ago in the mountains north-west of Pakistan and has swept south across a quarter of the country, including its agricultural heartland. The initial damage assessment for the relief and early recovery has been put at about $3.5 billion. It would take a number of years to construct new bridges, repair broken roads and damaged electricity pylons, and rebuild the homes and lives destroyed and the agricultural land and livestock lost. It is said that billions of dollars are needed in the long term. The United States has already donated $70 million. With the Saudi generosity comes a donation of $100 million in addition to continuous relief support for flood victims.

Around half a billion dollars has now been pledged, including $35 million donated by the Australian Government and $500,000 from the New South Wales Government. Premier Kristina Keneally and the Minister for Western Sydney David Borger announced that the New South Wales Government will provide $250,000 each to the Australian Red Cross and UNICEF for the Pakistan flood appeals. Both organisations have been on the ground in Pakistan assisting with medical treatment, shelter, food and clean water, hygiene kits and tracing missing family members. In the coming months the New South Wales Government will also host a fundraising dinner at Parliament House to support relief efforts. A number of New South Wales councils will also donate. Canterbury council has donated $10,000 and Rockdale council will soon make its own pledge. I am pleased to announce that, with councillor Bill Saravinovski, the mayor of Rockdale City Council, Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan, the Acting Consul General of Pakistan, and Iftikhar Rana President of the Pakistan Association of Australia, I will be holding a fundraising dinner on 20 September to help the Pakistani flood victims with all moneys donated to go through Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA.

I take this opportunity to thank all those who have donated as well as the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, The Lebanese Muslim Association, and all who have dug deep to help those in need. Special thanks to Pakistan's High Commissioner to Australia, Ms. Fauzia Nasreen, for her determination to rally the Australian community to help the people of Pakistan. I also thank the honourable President of this House Amanda Fazio for expressing her condolences and giving members of this House the opportunity to do the same on behalf of the people of New South Wales and stand for a moment of silence as a mark of respect for the people of Pakistan. Recently, the people of Pakistan celebrated the occasion of Pakistan's Independence Day and today the people of Pakistan celebrate the holy month of Ramadan, but in doing so they remember their brothers and sisters who are suffering untold hardship. Our hearts go out to them and to the bereaved families of all who have lost loved ones and suffer as a consequence.

$ 500,000 NSW GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR PAKISTAN FLOOD RELIEF

The NSW Government is supporting the Pakistan Flood Relief efforts with a donation of $500,000 ( Five Hundred Thousand Australian Dollars) for emergency relief assistance. Premier Kristina Keneally and Minister for Western Sydney David Borger announced the NSW Government will provide $250,000 each to the Australian Red Cross and UNICEF for their Pakistan Flood appeals. Both organisations have been on the ground in Pakistan assisting with:•Medical treatment; •Shelter; •Food and clean water; •Hygiene kits; and •Tracing missing family members.

The NSW Government will also host a fundraising dinner to support relief efforts at Parliament House in the coming months. Ms Keneally yesterday met with the Acting Consul General of Pakistan, Mr Hamid Asghar Khan to discuss the crisis and ways the NSW Government can assist disaster relief. The President Pakistan Association of Australia Mr. Iftikhar Rana and Editor-in-Chief Sada-e-Watan Mr.Syed Zafar Hussain were also present during the meeting with the Premier.

At least 2000 people have been killed and around 750,000 homes have been badly damaged. A fifth of Pakistan is under water and the United Nations estimates that more than 20 million people are suffering in the worst ever national disaster. The World Health Organisation has estimated more than 10 million people are either suffering or at risk of infections including cholera and diarrhoea from drinking unsafe water. “Around six million people require immediate food aid and millions more are affected by public health issues as a result of this natural disaster,” Ms Keneally said. “The NSW Government’s contribution will go towards provision of frontline resources and helping those most in need.” “NSW has a large Pakistani community and many have experienced the impacts of this disaster through their family and friends,” Mr Borger said. “The Pakistan-born community in Australia has grown by 42.6 per cent since 2001, with around 51 per cent living in NSW. “The NSW Government is pleased to be able to assist with the Pakistan flood relief efforts.”

Acting Consul General of Pakistan Hamid Asghar,Iftikhar Rana & Syed Zafar Hussain Calls on

Premier of New South Wales Hon.Kristina Keneally at the Premier office Sydney

The Acting Consul General of Pakistan, Mr Hamid Asghar Khan, officially called on the Premier of New South Wales, The Honourable Kristina Keneally at the Premier’s office on the evening of Thursday 26th August, 2010. Mr Hamid Asghar was accompanied by the President of the Pakistan Association of Australia, Iftikhar Rana and the Chief Editor of Sada-e-Watan, Syed Zafar Hussain Shah.

The Acting Consul General had sought the meeting in order to formally request the assistance of the New South Wales Government to assist with the ongoing relief effort in Pakistan. While thanking the Premier for receiving him and the members of his delegation, Mr Hamid informed the Premier in detail regarding the enormity of the catastrophe, and of the complexities involved in providing relief to millions of Pakistanis who have been displaced by the unprecedented floods. The need for international assistance and the enormity of the logistical challenge were highlighted during Mr Hamid Asghar’s presentation.

The Premier, Ms Kristina Keneally stated that she sympathised with the Pakistani people, and was deeply moved by the visual images of the disaster that she had seen in the media. As the Chief Executive of a large and vibrant State, she realized how the Government of Pakistan must be struggling in order to provide relief to millions of people, many of them completely cut off by road and rail due to the floods. She appreciated how difficult it must be to assist those who were scattered over such a large area without adequate food, water or medicines.

The Pakistani diplomat especially touched upon the danger of the spread of infectious waterborne diseases amongst children and expectant mothers, and informed the Premier with deep regret that already, the death toll in relief camps was rising, as millions were living on small patches of land, surrounded by stagnant water without adequate food or medicines. The spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, malaria, dysentery and diarrohea which were growing due to the lack of clean drinking water, especially amongst minors and expectant mothers was specifically discussed.

The President of the Pakistan Association Mr Rana also informed the Premier regarding the multifarious activities that the Pakistani community in New South Wales was undertaking in order to help those in need back home. Mr Rana informed her that the Pakistani Community was united, and had rallied around the Consulate and all segments of society were working together in order to provide relief to the affectees. He appreciated the role of Sada-e-Watan, and of Syed Zafar Hussain Shah in keeping the community informed regarding all activities.

The Premier mentioned a number of possible ways which were under consideration, in which the New South Wales Government could contribute towards the relief effort, and these were discussed in detail during the course of the hour long meeting. Apart from immediate humanitarian assistance, the Premier Ms Keneally promised to look into ways of also later assisting Pakistan with the long term reconstruction of infrastructure which would commence once the floodwaters recede. Ms Keneally assured the Consul General that after holding internal discussions regarding the requirements highlighted during the meeting, her office would announce suitable and appropriate assistance within the next week.