The Monsoon rains began  two weeks ago and have washed away roads, bridges and communications lines, hampering rescue efforts by aid organizations and the government. The downpours have grounded many aircraft trying to rescue people and ferry aid, including six helicopters manned by US troops on secondment from Afghanistan.

Currently 30,000 Pakistan Army troops are busy in rescue and relief efforts. Where as  the Earthquake of 2005 and 2008 and the IDP crisis were devastating,  unlike the Flooding they were contained within a geographic area. Flooding has been reported  from Kyhber-Pakthunkwa all they way down to Southern Punjab and  Sindh. There is only so much the government and the armed forces can do in the face of such a massive disaster and so we as citizens have undertaken the mantle of trying to add our little drop to the ocean

To that end, we have decided to take up relief efforts to the areas of Sindh in an attempt to help bring relief to the suffering. The idea is initially to partner with a team of who is willing to take the relief goods up. We hope to launch such an intiative with Motorsports Club of Pakistan and our very own OffroadPakistan group to some part of Sindh and personally deliver the goods there. To help our international donors we have partnered with SA Relief operating under the aiegus of Paksef a US Tax-deductible 501(c)(3) NGO registered in California to enable our US based well wishers to contribute to the relief via Chipin and Paypal

The online collection is slated to run through out Ramazan to tap into the generous Zakat giving ability of Muslims around the world, ideally this would mean two missions, one from the cash funds collected personally in Karachi while the second mission will utilize the generous contribution from online donations. It is my personal promise that all funds collected will be disbursed off in a total transparent manner as possible, all recipts and travel expenditures will be posted online for the world to see. Like the IDP Relief effort we did in 2009 here, here

Donations can be made directly into MOTORSPORTS CLUB PAKISTAN account at Samba Bank Ltd. in Karachi. A/C#06500379349  or even online on the widget provided above which is processed via Paypal and these online contributions are being collected by PAKISTAN SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FOUNDATION a 501(c)(3) registered California based not-for-profit organization, EIN# 20-2950808. For info contact: info@paksef.org.

At this tragic moment it was really heartening to see that every Pakistani around the world joined in the relief efforts in unison to help the suffering. It was a proud moment of unity which sadly seemed to last for a fleeting moment and has long since been forgotten, the tragedy was without doubt a lesson from God Almighty, but it seems that we may have already forgotten too quickly, we have returned back into the slums of looting and plundering that has always been the hallmark of our corrupt leadership we have forgotten, we continue to loot and plunder the nation with no care and worries of any repercussions whatsoever.

I would like to join A for [pine]Apple in prayer at Islamabad Metroblogs

Let’s pray for the departed souls, May Allah bless them with Maghfirah and Peace in Jannah; and for the affectees who lost limbs, families, homes, businesses, and lot more we’d never be able to even comprehend, May Allah’s blessings be with them (Ameen)

Please its time for us all to stop for a moment and reflect back on that day two years back where we were all a witness to some remarkable stories of unity, faith and discipline which was interspersed amongst the tragic loss of life, lets reflect back on the fleeting glimpses of a proud nation which stood up for something it truly believed in, if we can do it once then I believe we can do it again and not wait for another tragedy to jolt us again into our senses.

Lets preempt the rebuilding of our own nations with our own hands lets forget about any help from our politicians who continue to be self indulgent in protecting their own seats of power simultaneously amassing wealth for their own benefit. Simply said we don’t need politicians, We need Leaders.
Links:

1. Lahore Metroblogs – 8th October and 08:50:38 AM
2. Chowrangi – Remembering Pakistan Earthquake 2005
3. Buzzvines – The earthquake
4. Islamabad Metroblogs – The Quake (8/10/05 – 08:50:38): Remembered
5. Mera Jehaan – Say a little prayer…

_{If you have written a post on Remembering the 2005 Earthquake in Pakistan please post the link in the emails and I shall update the post with the links}

Its sad but the citizens of Pakistan just don’t feel patriotic enough to celebrate. Sensing this onset of depression Buzzvines has launched an ‘I still Do Love Pakistan, Do You?’ campaign just to bring out that patriotic spirit amongst Pakistanis.

I would suggest every Pakistani to take a moment and say a few words on why you love Pakistan and post it to the buzzvines site. My message posted on the site is as follows.

I love Pakistan, have done so throughout my life, and will love it forever.

Pakistan belongs to its people and not to the bunch of rotten corrupt politicians that have come and gone. Pakistan has been resilient enough to withstand the onslaught of corruption year after year for 60 years running, watching one tyrant after another make his own heaven on earth, even then my country withstood the onslaught and continued to serve its people. After a 60 year struggle it seems to be a little battle worn and tired and its now time for true Pakistanis like us, to stand up and give our nation a helping hand. It does not ask for much, just simply your love for the nation and maybe a good ruler at the helm of the ship and the courage to stand up and boldly say, I LOVE PAKISTAN very soon we shall see our efforts bear fruit and the new rising sun will take Pakistan into the skies like never before

Believe in Pakistan like never before and boldly say Pakistan Zindabad