Progress Report

2009-2012

Sahara Fund

Sahara Fund Progress Report

2009-2012

Content
Introduction
Relief and Rehabilitation
Categorization of Victims
Donors and Donations
Funds Disbursed
Achievements
Success Stories
Feedback

Progress Report
2009- 2012

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, injuring at least 266.
The initiative was launched with the help of various donors, non-governmental and
international organizations to assist the survivors and their families with education,
food and health care through a support system aimed to help them recover their
livelihoods and become independent.

Mr.Geoff Garside, Executive President for Marriott Asia-Pacific region presents the check
on behalf of Marriott, its employees and business partners, to the hotel's owner,
Mr. Saddrudin Hashwani, Chairman of the Hashoo Group and Founder of the Hashoo Foundation

2 Relief and Rehabilitation

Phase I

The immediate relief efforts constituted the following:

a.Provision of medical assistance
b.Provision of transportation facilities to the affectees
Phase II
The Sahara Fund management recognized the fact that relief alone was not enough.
There was a need for an elaborate mechanism of support to help the survivors
regain their lost livelihoods. Based on this realization, a support system for the
affected families was developed according to the nature of disability, number of
dependents, economic conditions of the family, and the extent of need.

Progress Report
2009- 2012

Family of Marriott, Islamabad blast victim supported by Hashoo Foundation

3 Categorization of Victims
School Going
Children

College Going
Children

Other Family
Members

Total Family
Members

Numbers

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Deceased Staff

31

29

34

10

11

30

56

170

Injured Staff

27

Deceased Outsider

17

21

22

24

41

113

Injured Outsider

10

12

47

PC Peshawar
Deceased Staff

28

385

Progress Report
2009- 2012

4 Donors and Donations

The generous contribution of local and international partners has made possible the
implementation of the rehabilitation plan set by the Hashoo Foundation.

Marriott employees worldwide showed their care and concern and sought out ways
to help fellow employees and their families who were victims of the attack.
The Islamabad Marriott Assistance Fund was quickly established while employees
worldwide mobilized creative fund-raising activities such as car washes, bake sales
and used book sales or made individual contributions; hotels reached out to their
suppliers and business partners. The Marriott International and The J. Willard and
Alice S. Marriott Foundation also made contributions to the Fund, established
through United Way to provide financial assistance to the associates and their
families affected by the tragedy. (http://ehotelier.com/hospitalitynews/item.php?id=A15289_0_11_0_M)
The money raised is used to assist the victims and their families with education,
food, medical and social support as set forth by the Hashoo Foundation.
The following table provides a break-up of the donations towards the Sahara Fund:
Donors

Date

Donation in PKR

Donation in USD

Marriott International

Dec, 2008

11,164,622.60

145,074.00

Marriott International through

United Way of America

Jan, 2009

12,470,882.23

157,326.30

Hashoo Group

Sept-Dec, 2008

1,201,921

15,619.51

Hashoo Group Employees

Sept-Dec, 2008

3,950,800

51,342.44

500,000

6,497.73

UCH Power (Pvt) Ltd

Nov, 2008

Pakistan Bait-Ul-Mal*

Dec, 2010- Jan, 2011

2,000,000

25,990.91

Sept, 2008-2009

6,489,602

84,335.31

37,777, 827.84

486,186.20

Others
Total

* Please note that Pakistan Bait-Ul-Mal (PBM) donated US$ 25,000 (Rs. 2,000,000) to support monthly
disbursement in (2009-2011). The donated US$ 25,000 (Rs.2,000,000) by (PBM) is not included in
monthly disbursement amount US$ 237,524.60 (Rs. 19,895,791) shown in Funds Disbursed table.

5 Funds Disbursed
Category

Monthly Disbursement

Total in PKR

Total in USD

19,895,791

237,524.60

One time Emergency Payment

1,020,000

13,255.37

Medical Assistance

1,050,415

13,650.62

21,966,206

264,430.60

Total

Progress Report
2009- 2012

Breakup of Funds Disbursed

Particulars

Sept 2008
-Jun 2009

July 2009
-Jun 2010

Monthly
Disbursement

48,510.05

One time
Emergency Payment

13,255.36

Medical Assistance

10,278.30

3,372.32

72,043.71

90,705.59

Total

87,333.27

July 2010
-Jun 2011
66,492.43

July 2011
-Dec 2011
35,197.56

Total in USD
237,533.32

13,255.36
13,650.62
66,492.43

35,197.56

264,439.30

The amount against monthly funds disbursement has been converted into USD
according to the average dollar rates in 2008, 2009, 2011.

Mr.Geoff Garside, Executive President for Marriott Asia-Pacific region meeting victims and their families

Achievements
136 children are currently enrolled in schools
32 children have passed their school exams and are studying in colleges now
2 children have completed their Master's degrees and are working to support their
families
1 female is doing MBBS from Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad
10 injured have completely recovered and are able to support their families again
3 out of 10 injured have been provided with artificial limbs
53 families are still getting support
4 families are now self-sustained

Progress Report
2009- 2012

7 Success Stories

Hashoo Foundation provides one time support to establish home based employment
to encourage families to become self-sustained. If it was not for the support given
by the Sahara Fund many children would have had to leave school to earn menial
wages as child labor to help support their families. Zeeshan and Bashir Wali Khan's
family are excellent examples of this, with Hashoo Foundation's support they have
completed their education, found employment and are earning a respectable
livelihood.

Mr. Zeeshan Murtaza

From Loss to Achievement

Zeeshan Murtaza is the son of the late Murtaza-Uddin-Ahmed, who was a shift
engineer at Marriott Hotel, Islamabad, for 21 years before losing his life in the bomb
blast.
A studious and hardworking child, Zeeshan was awarded a Bronze medal for
securing 3rd position in Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education. Based on his
performance, he was granted full fee concession by Punjab College of Commerce.
After his father's death, the family found it very difficult to support Zeeshan's
academic aspirations. In 2010, Zeeshan managed to complete his Master's degree
in Business Administration from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, though a 20%
Scholarship and a contribution of 80% of his tuition fees by Sahara Fund.
Wanting to support his family as much as he could, Zeeshan started his professional
career with a two-month internship at Pakistan International Airlines' HR A & C
Department in year 2009. He also interned for 2 months at Hashoo Foundation,
Islamabad. Today he is working in an IT Company, Nayatel, as Senior Human
Resource Executive.

Progress Report
2009- 2012

Bashir Walis school going children

Dreams and Aspirations

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 especially
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) where female education is till 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 of six
comprising two brothers, two sisters, and his aged parents. It was a result of this
steady source of income that Bashir got married and was blessed with two beautiful
daughters and a son.
On the fateful evening of September 20, 2008, when a deafening sound snatched
away his life, taking away all his aspirations. His family was devastated by an utter
sense of hopelessness at the loss of their sole supporter. Their survival was at
stake.
It was in these circumstances that Hashoo Foundation stepped in through the
Sahara Fund. Bashir's family is still being provided with monthly financial support to
meet their household expenses, and get their children educated in good schools.
Bashir's widow was also provided computer training.
Bashir's sister, Bibi Syeeda, through support by the Sahara Fund, has completed her
Master's degree in Education Planning & Management from National University of
Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad. She is currently working with a reputed
organization in Islamabad.

Progress Report
2009- 2012

7 Feedback

The feedback from the families has been encouraging. Though their losses have
been great, Hashoo Foundation's support has been integral in helping put their lives
back in order. Their children are going to school, their medical expenses are taken
care of and some have even received enough to start small businesses. The
recipients of the fund have expressed a desire for the continuation of this support
till their children pass at least matriculation examinations and the families become
more financially independent.

Beneficiary with prosthetic limb provided by Hashoo Foundation

Hashoo Foundation Pakistan

House #7-A, St #65, F-8/3
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92 51 2287712-16
Fax: +92 51 2287718
info@hashoofoundation.org
Hashoo Foundation USA
9575 Katy Freeway Suite 490
Houston, TX 77024
Direct +1 713 483-4990
Fax+ 1 713-759-0787
www.hashoofoundationusablog.org

www.hashoofoundation.org