I had arranged a meeting with Abdullah Khan, manager at Nestle in Islamabad at 10am to see if Nestle could donate milk and milk powder for the Refugees at Panja Sahib. Mr Khan was very welcoming and was proud to mention that his father was from Patiala and mother from Ludhiana.The meeting went well and Mr Khan agreed to donate milk for the children and milk powder for upto 2 weeks and then heavily discounted rates thereafter, i was very greatful and deeply touched by Mr Khans praises of Sikhism.

I ordered a taxi to deliver the wheelchair to Panja Sahib and arranged to pick up Bhai Manjeet Singh and our local contact Tahir Mahmood on way.We got to Panja Sahib at about 3pm and met Amritpal and his parents, Amritpal was very eager and excited to get into the wheelchair, so without keeping this lovely young boy waiting any longer we handed the wheelchair over to his father.I dont think we saw Amritpal around much , he was being taken all around the Gurdwara grounds by the other children.We sat down with his father and asked him about Amritpals disability and if anything could be done medically. I was told that his disability was caused at birth while being delivered, so there was a very slight chance he maybe able to use his legs.

I instructed our wonderful contact Tahir to arrange a specialist doctor/surgeon in Islamabad to thoroughly examine Amritpal and i really hope there is something that can be done.The appointment will be arranged within the next few days.

I met with the milk distributors who have been delivering milk to the children and paid him for the 2 days delivery.I hope to hear from Nestle very soon or we will continue using our existing distributor.

The last 2 days have been hectic, i have spent everyday at Panja Sahib with the refugees Its just so amazing to see the people there making Langar (community kitchen ) for 3000 fellow refugees a day !! I have decided that Khalsa Aid will provide Milk for the children in the camp. I was previously told that there were 150 children at Panja Sahib but the new figure is 500 so the distributor had to be told to increase the order.The new order is for 600 cartons ( each carton 285ml ) and the delivery was to commence on Tue 2nd June.

I am very grateful for Bhai Manjit Singh from Kartarpur Sahib whom i first met carrying out great Seva of serving Langar to the victims of the earthquake (2005 ) in the devastated town of Musaffrabad, Pakistan.Bhai Manjit Singh travelled from Kartarpur Sahib ( Pakistan ) last night to offer his assistance to Khalsa Aid, he has been instrumental in setting up lines of communications between myself and the Panja Sahib refugees committee .I just totally frustrated and was about to give up on the committee but Bhai Sahib sorted the issues diplomatically.

 
 

Bhai Manjit Singh is a true Sevadar and an individual of the highest integraty but unfortunately he was let down by a couple of north American organisations and individuals during the earthquake relief.These Sikhs pledged financial support for the Langar and Bhai Sahib kept the Langar going on these pledges but i am sad and angry to say the Sikhs who made the pledges didnt deliver on their promises and Bhai Sahib was left financially ruined and suffered terrible through stress related health.
 

Khalsa Aid has also been requested by by Bhai Manjit Singh and Bhai Sham Singh to offer assistance towards the daily costs of Langar.The Langar at Panja Sahib is a beacon of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's message of equlity for mankind and we should all make sure the needy refugees continue to get fed.

Khalsa Aid has also been requested by by Bhai Manjit Singh and Bhai Sham Singh to offer assistance towards the daily costs of Langar.The Langar at Panja Sahib is a beacon of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's message of equlity for mankind and we should all make sure the needy refugees continue to get fed.

I had also promised Amritpal Singh (9 yr old disabled boy ) a wheelchair the previous day, so after meeting various individuals and finalising the milk order i left for Rawalpindi, affectionately known as "Pindi ". The last time i was in Pindi was in 2005 when Khalsa Aid was carrying out relief work after the earthquake, i had forgotten how polluted it was ! The traffic was awful and our local taxi driver had a temperament of a Pit Bull, i learnt many more Panjabi swear words from him after listening to him spitting poison at other drivers and pedastrians.We managed to locate an area of Pindi which specialised in medical supplies and after viewing a few models we bought a Japanese imported wheelchair.As we were driving back to Islamabad i kept thinking how Amritpals life will change completely by a wheelchair. It was too late to deliver the wheelchair so i went to get something to eat.

Sunday, 30th May 2009

I have been having trouble sleeping since my arrival in Pakistan, so i felt absolutely shattered and had a thumping headache.I had to force myself to do anything, I eventually reached Panja Sahib about 1pm, it was another extremely hot day.The kids were happily playing in the pool and the adults were sitting in the shaded areas.I walked carefully around the people sleeping on the floor to pay my respects to the Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Today i had come to Panja Sahib to see what we can offer to the refugees from Khalsa Aid. The meeting started well with Sardar Sarung Singh and 5 others in the room and as usual tea was served.I started the meeting by asking Sardar Sarung Singh to state exactly what they wanted from Khalsa Aid and from other NGOs,his answer was simple and quick, CASH ! I looked up at him and asked him who was to receive the cash and where will it be spent, i also wanted to know who was running the camp due to so much confusion .I was told that there was a 18 man committee set up to run the camp and 2 of the committee members ( a professor and a businessman ) had opened a bank account on their names.This bank account already has RS4Lakh deposited in it and this was set up for any major emergencies within the refugee camp. I made it clear to all the men sitting in that room that Khalsa Aid does not give cash but will purchase any items that are needed.

As soon as i stepped out of the room i was met by a local MNA ( Member of National Assembly ) , Haresh Kumar , his the representative for the minorities in Swat.He was dressed in brilliant white, sunglasses and had a big gold Kara on his wrist.I asked him about his role in the relief of the refugees in Panja Sahib.He informed me ( very steadfastly ) that he was " here to serve his people " and invited me to have dinner with him at his lodge at the Parliament. I thanked him and said i was too busy.I asked him about the running of the camp and who really was in charge, he stated that the Pakistani government was paying for the daily food for the refugees. I told Mr Kumar that i have been told Sardar Sarung Singh is in charge and that the Pakistani Gurdwara Prabandak Committee (PGPC ) was feeding the refugees.Mr Kumar was adamant that the PGPC didnt exist and that he had personally got it dissolved.

I had been here 3 days establishing who i was going to deal with and how Khalsa Aid was going get involved in providing relief.I just sat down on the steps and wondered if the Panjabi community will ever sort itself out and walked out of the Gurdwara Sahib.This whole episode has been extremely disappointing and i have decided that i will not work with any of them. HELP !!!!

I got on the phone to my contacts in Kartarpur Sahib and asked Bhai Manjit Singh Ji to send me a Sevadar who Khalsa Aid will pay to conduct its operations at the camp and to follow the progress of families when they go back to their homes.I have decided that Khalsa Aid will offer milk daily to children under 10 and baby milk powder for children under 2.The milk cartons contain nearly 300ml of milk , 2 cartons a day for the kids.I have been told there are about 150 children under 10 in the camp.

On the way back from Panja Sahib we were stopped by the heavily armed special forces just outside Islamabad.I was told to get out from the car by a very serious looking soldier. When i got out the soldiers sitting in the jeep nearby shouted " Let Sardar Ji go ,let him go !! " The soldier gave my passport back and we drove off. There is armed police and special forces everywhere, the atmosphere is very tense.

Saturday, 29th May 2009.

After spending the morning arranging a local sim card for my mobile phone and purchasing a pair of sandals ( another very hot day ! ) i tried to leave for Panja Sahib but was stopped by an elderly Pakistani gentleman who was visiting Islamabad from Jammu. This kind and elderly man had seen me sitting in the reception area of my hotel and wanted to have a chat with me. Apparently he had written a poem about Guru Nanak Dev Ji and wanted me to hear it.It was wonderful and very touching to hear the verses, we parted company with a warm embrace.

We reached Panja Sahib and after the routine search by the Pakistani security services we entered the Gurdwara Sahib.As i entered the Darbar Sahib to pay my respects to the Guru Granth Sahib Ji i noticed even more men,women and children than yesterday sleeping on the floor , there were also a dozen or so women reading from the Gutkas.I had to be careful as not to step on anyone.

I was told that i had just missed the Prince of Swat who was on his 3rd visit to reassure the refugees and had donated RS 1Lakh .The Prince was accompanied by members of Imran Khans political party who had also donated RS 1LAKH too.I sat with some of the men on the steps and asked them about any updates from their towns.Most of the refugees are from Bunair and the Pakistani government had announced in the afternoon that Bunair has been cleared and people can return home.I asked Sardar Sarung Singh about this and he informed me that 4 men had their throats cut in Bunair only hours after the town was given the all clear by the government and they will not be returning yet.

I noticed a little boy being carried by his father, he was called Amritpal Singh ( 9 yrs old ), due to his disability he was unable to walk.They needed a wheelchair so i said Khalsa Aid will provide him one within the next couple of days.Its still unclear who is running the refugee "camp", Sardar Sarung Singh is from the Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandak Committee and is also a refugee,but there are others who who think they are running the "camp".

I landed in Islamabad, Pakistan at 4 am today (Fri 29th may) and was greeted with a very warm and loud “Sat Sri Akal Sardar Ji" by one of the Pakistani officials at the airport. The official at the passport control asked me about my visit to Pakistan and I told him that I was from Khalsa Aid and had come to assess the situation of the refugees at Panja Sahib; he wished me the best of luck and stamped my passport. After clearing immigration checks I was out in the arrivals area of the airport where again I was greeted very warmly by the Pakistani members of the public.

I had about 4 hours of sleep and was feeling very tired from the long flight (18 hours travelling) and headed straight to Panja Sahib Gurdwara to meet the Sikh refugees. There were 4 of us in a tiny old car which had a windscreen that was about to shatter anytime. The car had no AC and the temperature outside was 45C degrees, if I opened the windows I felt the intense heat hitting me (and plenty of dust too) and if I kept the window shut it felt like as if I was in an oven. After seeing a guy who had just been killed in an accident on the main road we reached Panja Sahib Gurdwara.

There was a lot of security at the door to the Gurdwara Sahib and we all got searched.I was met by Sardar Sarung Singh who is the representative of the refugees in the Gurdwara Sahib. We went to the Darbar Sahib to pay our respects to the Guru Granth Sahib Ji and noticed that there were at least 30-40 people sleeping on the floor and few people reading from the Gutkas.I was told by Sarung Singh that there were approx 3000 people taking refuge in the Gurdwara Sahib. I walked around and spoke to a few of the people there and heard the same heart breaking tales of sadness and how they all missed their homes.

I was also told that the Sangat was very disillusioned by the lack of any support from the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). The Dehli Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee ( DSGMC ) has so far given RS32000 for the health clinic which is at the Gurdwara Sahib.The DSGMC also met the Senior Pakistani Officials to seek permission to send relief worth RS 2 CRORE , I asked Sarung Singh what this relief consisted of or when it was coming, he told me that he has no idea and Mr Sarna of DSGMC has not contacted him since their visit on the 23rd of May. The refugees are feeling very let down by the mainstream Sikh organisations and they are hoping the global Sikh Sangat will not just forget about them and leave them to "rot ". The Pakistani Gurdwara Prabandak Committee is providing the daily Langar for the refugees at the cost of RS25000 a day.

I have arranged a meeting with Sardar Sarung Singh for tomorrow (30th May) to see how Khalsa Aid can assist them. I have already been informed that the clinic needs to stock up on medicines and I will follow this up with the clinic doctor. I was mobbed by a lot of people on the way out who were worried that we will forget about their plight but when I told them I was returning the next day they were shaking hands and smiling On the way back from the Panja Sahib I was totally knocked out and I slept on the shoulder of my local contact Tahir, I felt embarrassed but he was ok about it. I woke up at a police checkpoint with a policeman all excited and reaching into my window. He kept saying how the Sikhs are a great people and invited me for a cup of tea at the checkpoint. I shook the policeman's hand and thanked him for his kind words.

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