Sindh government’s coronavirus fund has received Rs31.14 billion donated by 984 individuals inside and outside of Pakistan.
Chief Secretary Sindh Mumtaz Ali Shah on Thursday confirmed that the provincial coronavirus fund established by Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has received generous donations from local and overseas philanthropists.
The chief secretary was chairing a meeting on coronavirus emergency fund. He was briefed that a total of 984 individuals deposited money to support Sindh government’s fight against COVID-19.
Overseas Pakistanis transferred Rs 14.6 million to the fund. While the rest were donated by government officials and local philanthropists.
Shah also approved a grant of Rs410 million for field hospital at Expo Centre Karachi while Rs300 million were separately approved for upgrading the intensive care unit of the field hospital.
The chief secretary advised secretary finance to approach an accounting firm for a third-party audit of the fund.
A spokesman for the Sindh government Murtaza Wahab had said on April 7 that the fund had received Rs74 million in the provincial coronavirus fund. Wahab confirmed on Thursday that the government has decided to make the details of the fund public to maintain transparency.
“All details of the fund have been uploaded on the website of the Sindh finance department,” he said in a video message.
He also said that the Sindh government had earmarked Rs3 billion for the coronavirus fund. “We are thankful to the philanthropists and all those who donated in the fund,” he said.
