August 27, 2010: UBL in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) announced the launch of a major relief campaign in Islamabad that is single-mindedly focused on the “prevention of water-borne disease and illnesses” among the flood-affected population.

Water-borne diseases have become a major threat for people directly affected by the floods. Supplying clean drinking water in bottles often involves logistical complications – hence, UBL has opted for a more practical alternative based on which, a shipment of 4,000 portable water purifiers produced by a Europe-based company specializing in complex emergency response and disease control products, has been imported for free distribution among the flood affected population through NDMA.

The first consignment of the portable water purifiers that arrived in Islamabad by air-freight was delivered to NDMA at a simple ceremony held at NDMA Headquarters in Islamabad. These units will be distributed in the most severely affected districts of Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa, Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Atif R. Bokhari, President & CEO of UBL stated: "These portable water purifiers are ideal for use in remote locations where people are surrounded by dirty flood water and exposed to diseases. These are manufactured by a leading global company and have been tested at a leading hospital laboratory in Karachi as well, to ensure that they would work optimally in our environment".

Supporting the bank’s initiative, Lt. General Nadeem Ahmed, Chairman NDMA said: "We are delighted to be working with UBL in distributing these portable water purifiers. We have teams of people on the ground that will reach out to the worst affected parts of the country and deliver these units to people and encourage their use."