BCM holds Pakistani Cultural Night to raise funds for flood victims

BCM holds Pakistani Cultural Night to raise funds for flood victims on December 5, 2022. (Sun Photo/Mohamed Naail Hussain)

Bridging the Communities Maldives (BCM), a local NGO, has hosted a Pakistani Cultural Night to raise funds to assist the women affected by the devastating flash floods in Pakistan.

The fundraiser was held at the Manhattan Business Hotel in Male’ City on Monday evening.

The event was inaugurated by Maldivian Transport Minister Aishath Nahula, and was attended by Pakistan High Commissioner Vice Admiral (Retired) Muhammad Fayyaz Gilani, Deputy Pakistan High Commissioner Zulqurnain Ahmad, President of Dhivehi Bahuge Academy Dr. Ashraf Abdul Raheem, and Chairman of Elections Commission Fuad Thaufeeq.

BCM holds Pakistani Cultural Night to raise funds for flood victims on December 5, 2022. (Sun Photo/Mohamed Naail Hussain)

Speaking at the event, Gilani highlighted the long-standing relations between Maldives and Pakistan, and described Maldives as a second home for the Pakistani people.

Gilani said that Maldives has always been the first to assist in times of need.

Pakistan High Commissioner Vice Admiral (Retired) Muhammad Fayyaz Gilani speaks at the BCM-organized Pakistani Cultural Night to raise funds for flood victims on December 5, 2022. (Sun Photo/Mohamed Naail Hussain)

Highlighting on the unprecedented monsoon rains and flooding that affected Pakistan this year, Gilani noted it claimed the lives of over hundreds of people, and washed away major infrastructure developed over years.

Gilani said Pakistan has begun rebuilding with assistance from the international community, but that it would take time.

Speaking at the event, Ashraf recited an Urdu poem from Muhammad Iqbal, also known as Allama Iqbal, a renowned writer and philosopher from Pakistan.

President of Dhivehi Bahuge Academy Dr. Ashraf Abdul Raheem speaks at the BCM-organized Pakistani Cultural Night to raise funds for flood victims on December 5, 2022. (Sun Photo/Mohamed Naail Hussain)

The event saw displays of traditional handicraft from Pakistan and ended with a banquet.

BCM sold tickets for the event for MVR 350.

The NGO said the event received a lot of support.

Funds raised from the event are set to be utilized to provide food and medicine to the women affected by the floods.

Unprecedented monsoon rains and flooding this year - which many experts attribute to climate change – have claimed over 1,600 lives in Pakistan since mid-June. Two million homes across the country were damaged or destroyed, leaving about half a million flood survivors homeless, living in tents and makeshift structures.

Pakistan estimates losses from the floods amounts to USD 40 billion.