Houstonians again proving their Care for the Humanity 40-feet container of gifts for the flood hit Sister City of Karachi

The Houston-Karachi Sister City Relationship has shown the importance of Sister Cities – helping each other in times of need through joint efforts. See the article below to read about their connection and donation!


November 18, 2020 (Our Special Correspondent): Speaking at the sending off ceremony of 40-feet container of gifts from the people of Houston, Texas, USA to the people suffering from the aftermath of Super Floods in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan of Aug-Sept, 2020; the Consul General of Pakistan Honorable Abrar Hashmi acknowledged the generosity of Pakistani American Community and great volunteerism during natural calamities from USA to Pakistan is remarkable. The guest of honor of the occasion was the successful oil industry mogul and philanthropist Syed Javaid Anwar of Midland Energy who said: “My beloved single mother taught me that give to others & then forget about it: If God has blessed you, share it with your fellow humans beings.”

Thanking all the collaborative partners, donors, and volunteers, other speakers on the occasion were the Director of Houston Mayor’s Office of Trade and International Affairs (MOTIA) Mr. Christopher Olson; President of the Alliance For Disaster Relief & Houston Karachi Sister Association Muhammad Saeed Sheikh; and Director of Programs of Helping Hand for Relief and Development iLyas Hasan Choudry.

This spirit has been seen during the months of September, October, November (& will go into December 2020), when under a joint Houstonians effort, several community organizations and volunteers have come together to send support to the people of Pakistan, who have been suffering during & after the 89 years historic rains & floods of Aug-Sept-2020.

Houstonians are known for their big heart: Be it local like Harvey 2018, or National like Sandy 2012, or International like Earthquake Haiti 2010, people of Houston are always at the forefront of humanitarian services. For the 40-feet container, the entities that have participated include the Consulate General of Pakistan Houston, Houston Karachi Sister City Association (HKSCA), Helping Hands for Relief & Development (HHRD), University of Karachi Alumni Association of Houston, Alliance For Disaster Relief Houston (AFDR), Pakistan Students Association of University of Houston (PSA U-of-H), House of Charity, and several community donors & volunteers.

Spotlight of these efforts have been the 40-feet container of brand new gifts sent out to Karachi on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 from the Houston warehouse of one of the collaborative partners “Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD / Helping Hand USA). Items include brand new winter jackets, comforters, caps, socks, clothes, umbrellas, surgical masks, bag packs, school supplies, toys, and much more.

These items will be gifted to 1000s of suffering people of Karachi at a special occasion called “Mall of Humanity” sometimes in late December 2020, or early January 2021, when the winter season will be at its peak.

Earlier on behalf of the Houston Community, the Houston Karachi Sister Association (HKSCA) & Alliance for Disaster Relief (AFDR) and sent donation support to the people of Karachi, Dadu, and Umarkot in Sindh through US Top 4-Star Charity NGO Helping Hand for Relief and Development.

HHRD provided help to over 100,000 persons to Super Floods victims in Pakistan; out of whom 10,000 persons have been supported through the Giving of Syed Javaid Anwar of Midland Energy (Patron-in-Chief of AFDR & HKSCA). This support was given through hot meals with clean bottled water, 60+ free mobile healthcare clinics with medicines, and grocery distributions.

Everyone present at the 40-feet container sending off ceremony commended the untiring efforts of the collaborative partners & donors of this effort, and especially highly appreciated the hard-work of the young volunteers of Helping Hand USA and Students of Pakistan Student of Association of University of Houston.

Present on the occasion were President / CEO of Medical Bridges Walter Ulrich; Former City of Houston Councilperson Masrur Javaid Khan; Constable Elect Fort Bend County Nabil Shike; President of Pakistani-American Association of Greater Houston Haroon Shaikh; Coordinator HHRD Southeast Texas Mohammad Saad Ansari; President & Executive Officials of University of Karachi Alumni Association of Houston Azam Akhtar & Ghulam Chisti;  President of Pakistan American Volunteers Association Akhtar Abdullah; Vice President of Houston Karachi Sister City Association Muhammad Zaheer;  Executive Board Member of Sister Cities of Houston Kham Vergas; President of Shah Latif Cultural Institute Mahmood Dahri; APPNA Foundation member Dr. Yakoob Sheikh; Executive Director at IBN Sina Foundation Houston Dr. Hina Azam; Chairman Help 4 Needy Mahmood Marfani and all the major print-&-electronic media personalities’