SAHARA FUND

PROGRESS REPORT
October 2010- March 2011

1. INTRODUCTION
The biggest ever explosion in the history of Islamabad occurred at 7:59 pm (PST) on September 20, 2008 at the main gate of the citys prestigious Marriott Hotel also called the Home of Islamabad. This blast rocked neighboring buildings and shattered glass windows in residential homes up to 5 kilometers radius. The explosion took place just after Iftar as families broke their Ramadan fast. According to official and eyewitness reports, supported by CCTV cameras, a dump truck, packed with an estimated amount of more than 600 Kilograms of highly inflammable, explosive materials tried to enter the Hotel premises by ramming through the protective steel barriers. As the truck approached it was stopped by the dutiful and brave Hotel Security Guards in spite they sense the danger. Immediately after it was stopped a flash occurred inside the truck causing a fire. Security guards were seen trying to extinguish the fire when the devastating blast occurred. The explosion was so immense it created a 59 feet wide and 20 feet deep crater destroying everything and killing or seriously injuring everyone who was near the truck when the blast went off. The blast was so great it immediately destroyed the ground floor lobby and reception area and caused the modern multi-story Hotel to catch on fire. Flames spread on every floor, with desperate people trying to flee the building. The death toll went from an initial 11 persons to a reported 53, with more than 250 people injured. Causalities were found in the parking lot as well as inside the burning building. Most of the dead were Pakistani citizens and were employees of the Hotel, including the security guards. Taking immediate action the management of Hashoo Group and Hashoo Foundation has devised a plan outlining the procedures for providing relief and rehabilitation.

2. CATEGORIES
a. b. c. d. Deaths of hotel staff Deaths of outsiders Injured staff with disabilities Injured outsiders with disabilities

3. RELIEF AND REHABILITATION

Hashoo Foundation supported all affected staff and outsiders in terms of medical treatment in government as well as in the best private hospitals. Hashoo Foundation provided transport to injured staff and outsiders from Islamabad to their homes in far-flung areas. Hashoo Foundation developed a support system based on the following criteria for the families of the affected staff, outsiders who died and to those who became disabled or were unable to work.

4. SUMMARY REPORT FOR THREE MONTHS (October-December, 2010)

Sahara Fund, Support to the families from October - December, 2010
Sr # Details Number of families 1 Per month payments for deceased staff Per month payments for deceased outsiders Per month payments for Injured outsiders Per month payments for deceased staff of PC Peshawar Total Amount 30 Amounts (PRK) October, 2010 Amounts (PRK) November, 2010 Amounts (PRK) December, 2010 Total Amounts (PKR) 1,140,300 Amount in US Dollars $

3,80,100

3,80,100

3,80,100

$13, 415.29

13

1,16,220

1,16,220

1,16,220

3,48,660

$4,101.88

26,800

26,800

26,800

80,400

$945.88

56,000

56,000

56,000

168,000

$1, 976.47

53

579,120

579,120

579,120

1,737,360

$20, 439.52

5. SUMMARY REPORT FOR THREE MONTHS (January 2011- March, 2011)

Sahara Fund, Support to the families from January - March, 2010

Amounts in US Dollars $

Sr #

Details Per month payments for deceased staff Per month payments for deceased outsiders Per month payments for Injured outsiders Per month payments for deceased staff of PC Peshawar Total Amount

Number of families 30

Amounts (PKR) January, 2011 3,80,100

Amounts (PKR) February, 2011

Amounts (PKR) March, 2011 3,80,100

Total Amounts (PKR) 1,140,300

3,80,100

$1,3415.29

13

1,16,220

1,16,220

1,16,220

348,660

$4,101.88

26,800

26,800

26,800

80,400

$945.88

56,000

56,000

56,000

168,000

$1,976.47

53

579,120

579,120

579,120

1,737,360

$20,439.52

6. ACHIEVEMENTS:
When Dreams Became Realities

"The end of wisdom is to dream high enough to lose the dream in the seeking of it." -- William Faulkner

Dreams and aspirations--are what direct us towards our destiny. Bashir Wali Khan, a young, dynamic red-blooded Chitrali; was a dreamer. He had a dream to banish the haunting woes of poverty from his family and empower his sister Bibi Syeeda, to become an independent and capable woman.This was not a dream that could be easily achieved since he belonged to the remote area of Bang, Upper Chitral (KPK), an area where female education is still frowned upon by the strong traditionalist forces. Add to it an eleven member family for which he was the sole bread-earner, and this dream easily had the potential to become a fleeting memory. Bashir, however, had not learnt to cave in to the difficulties his life was throwing at him. He moved to Islamabad in search of better prospects than offered by his opportunity-strived native town. He started working as a restaurant cashier in Islamabad Marriott Hotel and life became a lot more bearable for the family. It was a result of this steady source of income that Bashir got married and was blessed with two beautiful daughters and a son: Enara Bashir, Baqer Danish and Yasmeen Danish. He was the single ray of hope for his family comprising of two brothers: Sadiq Ahmed and Rashid Wali Khan; and two sisters: Bibi Zahira and Bibi Syeeda, along with his old parents. It was the horrific evening of September 2008 when a deafening sound snatched away his life, taking away all his aspirations. In pursuit of his dream, Bashir lost his existence in flesh and blood. His family was devastated by an utter sense of hopelessness at the loss of their sole supporter. Mere survival of his brood was clouded by ever threatening ogre of poverty. This was a time when all certitude seemed bleak and non existent.