Hope floats as Karachi’s young blood dips in to help

Two law students from Manchester decided to do something different when they came back home this summer.
Twenty-five-year old Mohammad Jibran Nasir and his friend Amar Abbasi felt that while the floods were wreaking havoc across the country, there did not seem to be an obvious channel to help those affected by the disaster.
“When the earthquake came everybody had a channel, they all knew they could go the PAF base and donate there,” said Jibran. “But this time around there did not seem to be anything out there.”
Since the two young men felt that their efforts were the first step to reach the flood-affected families in Khyber-Pakthunkhwa and other areas, they decided ‘Pehla Qaddam’ would be an apt name.
Despite the target killings, riots and storms, the group managed to raise around Rs250,000 in five days. “We set a target of Rs100,000 in seven days but Mash’Allah we managed to make so much in just five days!” said the optimistic Jibran.
In fact, Pehla Qadam has struck a good deal with the Imtiaz Supermarket chain, which has promised to sell the items on the group’s list (adapted from the National Disaster Management Authority’s list) at a subsidised rate.
Moreover, the Royal Rodale has donated a room, which is serving as the main collection point for the group.
Initially the plan was to collect supplies for a week and then send them off since both Jibran and Amar have to head back to Manchester. “But our friends were so eager that we have decided to leave things to them and keep the process going for another week.”
The hotel too has agreed to let them keep the room for another seven days.
Since Pehla Qadam is not a registered entity, the group decided to affiliate itself with the Rotaract Club. The same organisation will help the group transport the goods to the affected areas.