UNDP appoints Aisam, Hadiqa as ‘goodwill envoys’ for Pak’s flood recovery efforts

ISLAMABAD - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has appointed two award-winning celebrities from the world of music and sport as goodwill ambassadors for Pakistan’s early recovery effort from the unprecedented floods.

Tennis star Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Pakistani pop singer Hadiqa Kiyani will use their celebrity status and broad appeal to help the UNDP raise funds for more than 20 million people, who are starting to slowly rebuild their lives after the floods that have devastated the country since July, the Daily Times reported.

“I am honoured to become a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNDP in Pakistan,” said Aisam.

“It is important for me to help those people who lost everything because of the floods to get back on their feet,” the tennis player added.

“The UNDP is helping communities affected by the floods rebuild their lives and I am proud to add my personal commitment to these efforts,” said Hadiqa, who has already helped the UNDP raise awareness about environmental issues through her songs.

To help communities recover from the disaster, the UNDP will provide 2,500 grants to flood-affected small, home-based businesses, agricultural goods, including seeds and fertilisers, and will create temporary work to repair roads, water facilities and protection walls.

The programme has already started cash-for-work projects in the districts of Charsadda and Nowshera in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and is partnering with 18 national non-governmental organisations to expand early recovery projects to other areas of the country. (ANI)