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This report illustrates of the major

activities amid last six months

pertaining to Sahara Fund Programme

which was initiated for the affected

families soon after the tragic suicide

attack on Islamabad Marriot Hotel on

September 20, 2008

PROGRESS REPORT

Social Welfare Department

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Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 2

2. RELIEF AND REHABILITATION ................................................................................... 3

3. SUMMARY REPORT OF TOTAL FAMILIES ............................................................... 3

4. SUMMARY REPORT OF CHILDRENS ACADEMIC LEVEL ................................... 4

5. ACHIEVEMENTS ................................................................................................................ 4

6. FUND DISBURSEMENTOF SAHARA FUND (JULY-DEC, 2012) ............................... 5

7. FUND DISBURSEMENT FOR SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVES AND SKILL ....... 6

TRAINING (JULY TO DECEMBER 2012) ...................................................................... 6

8. DONORS AND DONATION ............................................................................................... 6

9. TOTAL DONATION RECEIVED AND FUND DISBURSMENT .................................. 6

10. PROGRESS ........................................................................................................................... 7

11. FINDINGS OF THE IMPACT ASSESMENT STUDY .................................................... 7

12. MAJOR FINDING OF THE STUDY ................................................................................. 7

13. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FINDINGS ...................................................................... 8

14. SUCCESS STORIES ............................................................................................................ 9

I. SUCCESS STORY OF AFTAB MEHMOOD .......................................................................................... 9 I. SUCCESS STORY OF AZHAR MEHMOOD ....................................................................................... 10

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1. INTRODUCTION

The Sahara Fund was initiated by the Hashoo Group and Hashoo Foundation to provide

relief and rehabilitation of those affected by the Marriott Hotel Islamabad bomb blast of

September 20, 2008, killing at least 54 people and injuring at least 266.

The management of Hashoo Group and Hashoo Foundation took immediate action by

devising a concrete plan for relief and rehabilitation of the victims. These efforts were

coordinated and executed within the overall relief and rehabilitation plan with the

collaboration of donor governments, non-governmental and international organizations.

A mechanism for fund disbursement was prepared resulting in 59 families getting

medical, financial and educational assistance since 2009, under Sahara Fund Programme.

Each familys position has been evaluated in an attempt to abet them in achieving the

same income level they had prior to the explosion. Specific policies and procedures have

been developed by the Social Welfare department of Hashoo Foundation, for the

recipients of the affected families who collect disbursement from the Sahara Fund.

Distinct groups have been created in accordance with the family needs that were

established through individual interviews with family members to review their

dependence and level of poverty. These groups are then used to categorize recipient.

The categories of victims were grouped under the following categories:

A. Deceased hotel staff

B. Deceased outsiders

C. Injured staff with disabilities

D. Injured outsiders with disabilities

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2. RELIEF AND REHABILITATION

The following relief and rehabilitation measures were taken immediately after the

tragic incident by Hashoo Foundation:

1. Hashoo Foundation supported all affected staff and outsiders in terms of medical

treatment in government as well as in the best private hospitals.

2. Hashoo Foundation provided transport to injured staff and outsiders from

Islamabad to their homes in far-flung areas.

3. Hashoo Foundation developed a support system for the families of the affected

staff and outsiders who died and to those who became disabled and are unable to

work.

The relief and rehabilitation measures were taken as per the criteria executed as

followings:

A. Nature of disability and severity of injury of the staff and outsiders.

B. Number of dependent and economic condition of the family in terms of family

size and a reliable source of income.

C. Extend of needs of the family.

3. SUMMARY REPORT OF TOTAL FAMILIES

S.N Categories Base line

Number Current

1 Deceased Staff 31 30

2 Injured Staff 3 1

3 Deceased Outsider 17 11

4 Injured Outsider 8 2

5 Pearl Continental Peshawar

Deceased Staff 4 4

6 Total 63 48

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5. ACHIEVEMENTS

- 3 beneficiaries are successfully running their small business and on track towards

self-sustainability.

- 2 beneficiaries trained on beautician and chic work are inclined to initiate their

own self-sustainability initiatives.

- 3 beneficiaries successfully phased out from Sahara Fund after initiating their own

business.

- 2 more beneficiaries are planning to establish their own business once their small

business plan is approved.

- 1 beneficiary got a job in a renowned national school at Islamabad, Pakistan and

earning sufficient income to sustain himself and his family.

- 45 families are still getting support out of 63 families.

- 18 children are getting college level education (Intermediate level, Class 11th and

12th

)

- 30 children are getting university level education (Both graduation and Master

level classes) and some have completed their graduation degree.

4. SUMMARY REPORT OF CHILDRENS ACADEMIC LEVEL

Gender Attending

School

Attending

College

Attending

University

Total Number

of Students

Male 63 7 16 86

Female 67 11 14 92

Total 130 18 30 178

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6. FUND DISBURSEMENT OF SAHARA FUND (JULY-DEC, 2012)

S.N Categories of Beneficiaries Number of

Beneficiaries

Total Amount

PKR

USD Value

US $1=

PKR. 98

1 Deceased Staff 30 2579500 26,266.33

2 Injured Staff 01 52800 8,101.22

3 Deceased Outsider 11 793920 538.78

4 Injured Outsider 02 145000 1,479.59

5 Deceased Staff ( P.C Hotel

Peshawar) 04 361000 3,683.67

6 Grand Total 48 3932,220 $40,069.59

Monthly Payment details from July to December, 2012

Months Total Amount in PKR USD Value

US $1= PKR. 98

July 562,220 5,736.94

August 726,520 7,413.47

September 799,620 8,159.39

October 614,620 6,271.63

November 614,620 6,271.63

December 614,620 6,271.63

Total 3932,220 $40,124.69

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7. FUND DISBURSEMENT FOR SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVES AND

SKILL TRAINING (July to December 2012)

Categories of

Beneficiaries Number

Business Type &

Training

Total Amount

PKR

USD Value

US $1=

PKR. 98

Deceased Staff 1 General Store 90,000 918.37

Deceased out sider 1 Dairy Business 86,400 881.63

Injured out sider 1 Dairy Business 85,000 867.35

Deceased Staff 2 Beautician & Chic

Training 26,500 270.41

Total 5 -- 287,900 $2,937.76

8. DONORS AND DONATION

9. TOTAL DONATION RECEIVED AND FUND DISBURSEMENT

Donors Donation Received PKR. USD Value

US $1= PKR. 98

Marriott International 23,632,730 241,150.31

Hashoo Group 1,201,921 12,264.50

Hashoo Group Employee 3,950,800 40,314.29

UCH Power ( Pvt) Ltd 500,000 5,102.04

Pakistan Bait-Ul- Mal 2,000,000 20,408.16

Others 6,489,602 66,220.43

Total 37,775,053 $385,459.72

Fund Total Amount in PKR USD Value

US $1= PKR. 98

Total fund received 37,775,053 385,459.70

Fund disbursed till June,

2012 since inception 25,274,966 25,7907.80

Fund disbursed from July

to December, 2012 3,932,220 40,124.69

Total fund disbursement 29,207,186 $298,032.50

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10. PROGRESS

Social Welfare Programme (SWP) team conducts assessment of the Sahara Fund

beneficiaries periodically. The prime objectives of the assessments are to evaluate the

effectiveness of the programme and to measure the impact of the financial assistance on

the lives of the beneficiaries as well as their future sustainability plan. Keeping these

objectives in mind, recent impact assessment of the Sahara Fund beneficiaries was

conducted by Social Welfare programme in May, 2012.

11. FINDINGS OF THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY

According to the impact assessment study of Sahara Fund Beneficiaries, it was observed

that most part of the fund is being utilized on the childrens education which would not

possible to be carried out without the continued support of Hashoo Foundation. As per

the study, all the assessed Sahara Fund Beneficiaries have been categorized as, those

who need long term support; those who need to be phased out who are financially sound

and medically rehabilitated those have been identified for different professional skill

trainings/courses. We have also identified some beneficiaries who have business

potentials and want to start their own small scale business in order to become self-reliant.

These beneficiaries need to be provided with the initial investment and training related to

the relevant business operation.

12. MAJOR FINDING OF THE STUDY

- 11 individual have been found for skill training (embroidery, sewing, beautician,

electrician etc.)

- 12 beneficiaries have been identified for small scale business to run their own

set up (livelihood, general store, parlor etc.

- 15 of families are already sound financially and self-sustained

- 5 patient rehabilitated/recovered and went back to their work places

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- 8 families have been identified for short term assistance and need to be phased

out shortly

- 17 families have been identified for long term assistance they are include small

children and mothers with no income ,old aged and suffering from some

diseases

13. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FINDINGS

As per the recommendations and findings of the study, two (2) beneficiaries have been

given training on beautician and chic work and some have been provided lump sum

amount to initiate small home based business so that they could go ahead towards self-

sustainability. Three (3) beneficiaries have successfully initiated their own small

business and have been smoothly running their business for the last four months. Two (2)

of them were facilitated in purchasing milk giving cow and one of them was facilitated in

initiating general store. In addition, the amount of monthly financial assistance to

eighteen (18) vulnerable beneficiaries of Sahara Fund has been increased who were

needed long term support and had been recommended as per the findings of the recent

impact assessment study of the Sahara Fund Programme.

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14. SUCCESS STORIES

i. Success story of Aftab Mehmood

Muhammad Din (late) who belongs to the remote area of Okaran, District Punjab, was

working as a CC TV operator at Islamabad

Marriott Hotel when a suicide bomber attacked

Marriott Hotel on the eve of 20th

September,

2008. Muhammad Din lost his life leaving his

family in financial hardships. As he was the

sole bread winner of his family and due to his

sudden death all his responsibilities shifted on

the shoulders of his son Aftab Mehmood.

Hashoo Group has always considered all its

employees as family.

Hashoo Foundation was truly disappointed and

moved by this horrifying incident. Keeping in view the financial problems and needs of

struggling families, Hashoo Foundation

introduced Sahara Fund Policy in which the

families like Muhammad Din have been

providing with the monthly financial

assistance since 2009.

In order to get self-sustainability and financial

independence, Mr. Aftab Mehmood and his

brother expressed their desire to initiate their

own general store. For this purpose, Hashoo

Foundation provided a lump sum amount of

Rs 90,000 ($918) to start their business of

grocery store named, Rana General Store

located in Sadiqabad, Rawalpindi.

As per the survey of Social Welfare Team, Aftab Mehmood has been earning a net profit

of Rs 600 ($6.12) per day.

While interview, he said that he was looking forward to expand his business as he has

been earning a considerable amount of profit. Furthermore, Aftab and his brother are

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very much satisfied with their business. They are thankful to Hashoo Foundation for its

tremendous support. Hashoo Foundation played a great role in getting their peace and

dreams back.

If tears could build a stair way and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and

bring you home again. (Dedicated to Hashoo Foundation)

i. Success story of Azhar Mehmood

The times in life, that seems to be worst, always turn out for the best.

Azhar Mehmood a young, talented and dynamic Kashmiri, who had a dream to remove

the haunting woes of poverty from the life of his family. His dream fulfilled when got

married with his love Rasila Bibi. In order to provide his family a better and a quality

life, he travelled to Islamabad and joined a company as a security guard situated next to

Marriott Hotel Islamabad. But who knows the life will take such revenge from him. All

his dreams of leading a happy life remained a dream for him when a suicide bomber

attacked Marriott Hotel Islamabad and he badly injured losing his right eyes, and got his

liver damaged.

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During this time of helplessness and grief, the Hashoo Foundation played a role by

supporting the family. Due to severe liver and internal injuries, doctors had prescribed

him medical treatment. Hashoo Foundation financially supported with respect to all his

medical expenditures. Currently, he has recovered from his internal injuries but

permanently lost his right eyes sight.

However, he did not lose his

courage. As per Sahara Fund policy

Azhar and his family have been

provided with the medical as well as

financial assistance on monthly basis

since 2009 to help his family could

cope with the financial hardships.

Few months ago Hashoo

Foundations team had made a visit

and encouraged the young couple

towards self-sustainability.

Azhar and his wife, Rasila expressed their desire to initiate their own milk selling

business by purchasing milk giving cow. Hashoo Foundation encouraged him by

accepting his request and provided lump sum amount for the purpose of purchasing cow.

According to our follow up visit, the cow gives 8 kilograms of milk per day out of which

he sells 4 kilograms in the market. Today, he earns comparatively more income than that

of the monthly financial assistance had been provided by Hashoo Foundation. Azhar is

very thankful to Hashoo Foundation and Social Welfare Team for their immense support.

Hashoo Foundation has achieved a great mile stone by helping an affected family

become self-sustained.