After hearing stories about the devastation in Pakistan caused by widespread flooding, Gina Rasool said she knew she had to do something to help.

The owner of the Pizza Pizza locations on Elm Street and Lasalle Boulevard will donate $1 from every regular large pizza and 50 cents from every special large pizza towards an expedition to help flood victims.

Those who donate money or supplies for the flood victims will receive a free slice of pizza.

According to the United Nations, roughly four million people have been left homeless by the flooding in Pakistan.

The UN has, thus far, raised less than half of its $460 million aid target. Canada itself has pledged up to $33 million.

Rasool said the fundraiser at her restaurants will continue for at least the next three weeks, and possibly longer. She said she hopes to raise $10,000 through pizza sales and donations.

Rasool and a small group of Canadians plan to head to Pakistan in late October or early November to provide aid themselves in four villages — Nushera, Muzsegar, Sakhar and Rajampur.

“You need to understand that the women can't go out to get the supplies. In the lineups (for aid handouts) you'll only see men.”

Gina Rasool,
local business owner

The expedition members will pay for their own plane tickets to Pakistan, and then buy aid supplies in the country.
Anyone interested in joining the expedition or who wants more information about donating to the cause is asked to phone Rasool at 705-561-4661 or 705-524-6074.

The business owner said the expedition will focus on helping the most vulnerable — women, children and the elderly.

“It's a male-oriented country,” Rasool, who came to Canada 12 years ago from the city of Faisalbad, located in Pakistan's Punjab region, said.

“Women have no say. You need to understand that the women can't go out to get the supplies. In the lineups (for aid handouts) you'll only see men.”

Rasool said she is also trying to plan a dance in aid of the flood victims for sometime in September, although she has not yet pinned down all of the details.

The Pakistan Canada Foundation is also planning a fundraiser to help the flood victims. A dinner will be held at the Polish Combatants Hall Aug. 28 starting at 7:30 p.m.

The majority of the 200 tickets to the event — which cost $30 each — have already been sold.

However, the organizers say that even if people can't attend the dinner, they're still welcome to make cash donations to the cause.

Aamir Khan, a member of the Pakistan Canada Foundation, said the organization hopes to raise $6,000 for the flood victims.

He said the money will likely be donated to a large non-profit aid organization, although they haven't yet decided which one.
Khan said his family lives in the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, and has not been affected by the floods.

The owner of the Lasalle Boulevard and Elm Street Pizza Pizza shops is donating money raised from pizza sales to Pakistan flood relief. Back row, left to right are Pizza Pizza employees Richard Braunoehler and Shahid Mehmood. In the front row, centre, is the owner of the restaurants, Gina Rasool, and her children, Barack (left) and Alysha (right). Photo by Heidi Ulrichsen.

However, he said his brother has told him about the poor living conditions many in the country are experiencing. Khan said his family in Pakistan helped to collect money in their neighbourhood for the flood victims.

Rabia Iqtidar, another member of the Pakistan Canada Association, said her family is from Lehore, in Pakistan's Punjab region.

She said the region has not yet been hit by flooding, but preparations are being made, just in case flood waters head towards the city.

“They are trying to make dams and things like that to change the direction of the flood,” Iqtidar said.

“There are lots of villages and things that need to be emptied so that if they do change the direction of the flood, nobody else would suffer.”

Tickets to the dinner event or information about making donations are available by going to the Sudbury Multicultural & Folk Art Association, the Little India Restaurant, Petro Canada and Shell Canada, or by phoning 705-561-1150, 705-507-8889, 705-586-2332, 705-523-4174, 705-920-2118, 705-507-7918 or 705-207-0393.

Those who want to support the Canadian Red Cross in its flood relief efforts can make donations at Bank of Montreal (BMO) branches across Canada until Sept. 17, or by going to www.redcross.ca.