Teleco pledges Rs1.2 bn to fight COVID-19

ISLAMABAD: Jazz, a VEON group company, Wednesday pledged Rs1.2 billion contribution to Covid19 relief in Pakistan.

The support will include short to mid-term initiatives aimed at limiting the fallout of the pandemic — primarily for the most vulnerable communities. According to the company, as part of this immediate rollout, the Jazz will provide financial assistance to the leading welfare organizations across Pakistan.

The initiatives include Covid19 tests, life-saving ventilators, and food rations to be passed on to the ones most affected by the pandemic. The relief response also facilitates the Jazz customers to direct their charitable donations through SMS and JazzCash. The company employees will also voluntarily contribute up to 3-day salary to the nationwide relief effort.

A significant part of the announced support will be for continuing zero-rated and subsidized services for access to emergency care, medical helplines, and critical health applications, which have been either marked down or made free for customers under this coronavirus relief effort.

Aamir Ibrahim, the Jazz CEO, said, "We have been at the forefront of solving every crisis in Pakistan for the past 25 years. The Covid19 is no exception in stepping up our national responsibility. As a digital company, we have a huge role to play in keeping the economy advancing through online connectivity. This global crisis is unprecedented in its scale, and our prayers are with those who are suffering."