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Pakistan flood relief benefit raises $350,000

A recent fundraiser to benefit victims of the flooding in Pakistan drew more than 400 people to the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. The Aug. 29 event, organized by disaster-coordination group South Asian Relief, featured guest speaker Imran Khan, a well-known Pakistani cricket player who is now a politician.

The Pakistani flood, which began in July after heavy monsoons, has now affected more people than both the 2006 South Asian tsunami and the earthquake in Haiti this January. It is widely considered to be the worst natural disaster Pakistan has ever faced.

According to Ar Rafiq of South Asia Relief, the group had hoped to have 200 people attend and to raise $75,000.

"(It) has raised well over $350,000 and counting," he said. "The event was organized in less than 10 days by the Silicon Valley Pakistani diaspora on a shoestring budget of $3,500."

Attendees donated directly to the charity of their choice from a list of organizations including UNICEF, American Red Cross, Islamic Relief and HumanityFirst, among others. The fundraiser was supported by 13 organizations in the Bay Area, including the Pakistani American Cultural Center and Shalimar Restaurant.