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BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ JOINS LOCAL PAKISTANI LEADERS TO ENCOURAGE BROOKLYNITES TO HELP EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

Photograph by Kathryn Kirk

In photo: Borough President Markowitz hosts leaders of Brooklyn’s Pakistani community at Borough Hall and offers comfort to Consul General Haroon Shaukat.

On Friday, October 14, Borough President Markowitz and leaders from Brooklyn’s Pakistani community encouraged New Yorkers to help those suffering due to the recent devastating earthquake in Pakistan. Initial reports indicated that more than 30,000 Pakistan residents were killed and 2.5 million left homeless by the 7.6 magnitude quake. Among the attendees at a Borough Hall press conference were Mohammad Razvi, Executive Director of the Council of People’s Organizations; Muhammad Haroon Shaukat, Consul General of Pakistan, New York; Shahid Khan, General Manager of Pakistan International Airlines; Imam Hafiz Mohammad Sabir of Makki Mosque; Malik Sakhawat Hussain, Ph.D., Chairman of Al-Mahdi Foundation, New York; Asghar Choudhri, President of the Pakistani American Merchants Association and the Pakistani American Federation of New York; Debbie Almontaser of Women in Islam and Yemeni American Association; Richard Green of the Crown Heights Youth Collective; and Ali Mujahid Chaudary and Malik Nadim of the Kashmir Relief Fund.

“Brooklynites share a sense of disbelief at the magnitude of the destruction and loss of life in Pakistan — and at the millions left homeless and hopeless across the region,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “This earthquake may have struck on the other side of the world, but so many of our families, friends and neighbors have lost loved ones or been affected, that it truly hits close to home. Our motto in Brooklyn is “In Unity There Is Strength,” and in the face of a tragedy like this, we must remain united. Just as we did following hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Tsunami, and the floods in Haiti and the Dominican Republic — I call upon Brooklynites to respond as generously as possible to provide assistance to those impacted by this monumental disaster. Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with those who suffered in Pakistan and South Asia, and with all those in Brooklyn whose families and loved ones have connections to that part of the world.”

For information on how to donate the public should visit www.brooklyn-usa.org.