The Scottish government has provided funding for two Islamic Relief projects in Pakistan. It has committed this funding as part of its agenda of reducing world poverty through supporting developing countries.

£75,000 has been granted to Islamic Relief for their ongoing emergency assistance program, following the devastating floods in Pakistan in July 2010.  The funds will be allocated to help meet the basic needs of families in the Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Province in Pakistan by providing basic food, kitchen and household items to help 570 families severely affected by the floods.

An additional £400,000 will be injected by the Scottish government into an Islamic Relief  project aimed at developing a Microfinance and Economic Development programme with one of the main objectives being to alleviate poverty in Rawalpindi (Punjab), Pakistan. Islamic Relief will be matching the funds hence the total amount for this project will be £800,000 benefitting 70,000 people at least in Rawalpindi.

The proposed project will focus on providing sustainable economic development and financial support through skill enhancement, provision of tool kits, marketing and business support, micro loans and business start-up grants to the most vulnerable groups with particular emphasis on women.

Pakistan is the fourth most populous country in Asia.  It is estimated that over one quarter of the population live below the poverty line. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was quoted as stating that the floods were the worst disaster he had ever seen.  According to Pakistani government data, 20 million people have been affected by the floods and the World Health Organisation reported that ten million people had been forced to drink unsafe water.

During next week I will be visiting the focused areas in Rawalpindi and will be meeting the beneficiaries, men and women.I am also planning to visit the flood zones to witness myself the relief and reconstruction work carried out by Islamic Relief for the flood vicitims. I was here during the floods and some of my video blogs are uploaded under my video gallery.