DUBAI // Needy members of the Pakistani community have received assistance worth Dh2.2 million from the Pakistan Association Dubai.
In the past 22 months, Pad's community welfare department spent Dh1.8m to help expatriate members in the UAE and a further Dh400,000 to help 125 orphans in Swat Valley, Pakistan.
Money spent in the UAE went towards paying for school fees, the release of illegal immigrants from prison, the payment of hospital bills and Eid gifts.
In Pakistan, the money was used to assist the continuing flood relief work and help children in Parwarish orphanage.
Speaking at Pad's annual general meeting on Friday, the association's general secretary Faisal Ikram said there had been a significant increase in the number of members.
"The influx of families, youth and professionals significantly increased," he said. "The active participation of the community in Pad welfare projects is very remarkable [ ...] particularly in educational and health fields."
The association has set up two new wings to expand the services it offers to the Pakistani expat community in the emirate. These are the Pakistan Chartered Accountants wing and Pakistan International Business Association Wing.
The audience was told 120 community events had been organised in the past year, from religious lectures and teacher training workshops to Arabic courses, bazaars and food festivals.
Dr Ikram also praised the newly designed website and newsletter.
Zia ul Hassan, the association's president thanked the Community Development Authority and Dubai Government for their support.
