Stars help raise $1.5m for Pakistan's flood victims

Imran Khan and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi will be among the stars helping to raise money for Pakistan's flood victims at a gala event in Dubai next week.

UAE - Dubai - Nov 11 - 2010: Imran Khan pose for aportrait at Celebration of Entrepreneurship conference at Madinat Jumeriah conference centre. ( Jaime Puebla - The National Newspaper )
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DUBAI // Imran Khan and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi will be among the stars helping to raise US$1.5 million (Dh5.5m) for Pakistan's flood victims at a gala event in Dubai next week.

Pakistan's former cricket captain and the tennis player will be joined at the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa on March 4 by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The adventurer Namira Saleem, who went to the North and South Poles and was on the Virgin Galactic space mission, will also attend.

And the organisers have promised a host of surprise celebrity appearances, a raffle of prizes worth $150,000, an auction and live music from Mekaal Hasan Band.

Jamil Ahmed Khan, Pakistan's ambassador to the UAE, will also attend and called the event "a wonderful gesture by the organisers".

He praised the response from the UN and in particular the UAE to the floods last summer, which displaced two million people.

"The UAE was among the first countries to send support through helicopters, rescue teams and reconstructing bridges," he said. "The support provided by Sheikh Khalifa and the Crown Prince has been hugely welcomed and appreciated."

Danielle Wilson Naqvi, a spokeswoman for event organisers Quintessentially, promised a "fantastic event".

"Not only will we be raising money for a very good cause but it will be a fantastic opportunity for people to network and meet some very high-profile people," she said.

Tickets start at Dh1,000 for a seat, with a table costing Dh10,000. Corporate tables will cost upwards of Dh30,000. Organisers expect 500 guests.

The evening will begin with an address from Sheikh Nahyan, who has close links with Pakistan through investments and believes in the country's potential. In 2005, he was awarded Pakistan's highest civilian honour, the Hilal-e-Pakistan.

Imran Khan will talk about the situation on the ground for survivors, his own relief efforts and the urgent need for funds.

Engin Soysal, the UN special envoy for assistance to Pakistan, and the former prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, will also speak.

For ticket details visit www.quintessentially.com