Pakistani celebs flood social media with relief calls. Citizens say ‘you contribute first’
☰
Go To Pakistan

Pakistani celebs flood social media with relief calls. Citizens say ‘you contribute first’

Author Mohsin Hamid and singer Hadiqa Kiani have pledged funds and are actively involved on the ground. Former PM Imran Khan raised Rs 5 billion for flood relief.

Sanskriti Bhatnagar    
Pakistan economy suffered USD 10bn loss due to floods, says FM Miftah Ismail

Pakistan's flood situation (Photo Credit: Twitter handle of IFRC Asia Pacific)

Pakistani actors, cricketers, musicians and social media influencers are dialling the world for aid. Many have swapped selfies and promotional posts for footage of floods wreaking havoc across large swathes of the country. However, a few have also been called out for providing only lip service and regurgitating television footage.

A third of Pakistan is under water in a ‘climate catastrophe’, which has seen the death toll rise to over 1,000. Around 20 million people are reported to be homeless due to unprecedented rains and floods.

Just tweeting isn’t enough 

Celebrities have been using footage from TV channels to reach out to their fans urging them to open their hearts and wallets to those in need. Popular producer/actor Humayun Saeed appealed to the government to take appropriate steps to curb displacement and asked his fans to do their bit.

In response, many of his followers asked him to contribute first. Some questioned the purpose of the tweets while others suggested he donate some of the money he earned from his films.

 

Saeed wasn’t the only celebrity to be called out. When popular actor Mahira Khan sought public support through a retweet of Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan’s post, she was criticised for not having done enough, if anything at all, for flood relief.

Cricketer Shaheen Afridi also took to Twitter to summon public support for flood relief and was met with scathing criticism.

Also read: ‘Trade with India would be opened if need be’, says Pakistan Finance Minister Miftah Ismail

Celebrities engaging in service

But there are some celebrities and political leaders who have already started pledging funds and are actively involved on the ground. Author Mohsin Hamid has pledged the entry fee for his masterclass towards flood relief victims. He has tied up with Indus Relief 2022, an organisation launched by Fatima Bhutto and her brother Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The proceeds from the masterclass with the Moth Smoke writer will go to helping people affected in upper Sindh.

Singer Hadiqa Kiani has started Vaseela-E-Raah, through which she and her team will dispatch food, clothes and other basic necessities.

Her Instagram is now dedicated to raising awareness around the floods and the relief her team is able to provide those affected by the calamity.

Waseem Badami, a TV anchor, hosted a segment on ARY News and invited Syed Zafar Abbas Jafri, the owner of JDC Foundation, an NGO, and film and TV actor Fahad Mustafa. The trio discussed the wreckage caused by the flood to generate awareness. They also insisted that people and actors come forward for help and donate as much as they could.

Politicians stand up too

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former Prime Minister Imran Khan ran a three-hour telethon and was able to successfully raise Rs 5 billion for flood relief.

He was joined by Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa CM Mahmood Khan, celebrities Hamza Ali Abbasi and Khalil ur Rehman Qamar, and boxer Amir Khan.

Pakistan is also being aided by allies and well-wishers internationally as they receive financial aid from across the world. Turkey and the UAE have been providing tents, food, and other necessities.  The United Nations allocated $3 million. India is also considering extending aid to Pakistan.

(Edited by Prashant)