Indian businessman Joginder Singh Salaria.
Dubai - The men could not afford to pay for the air tickets.
Published: Tue 15 Oct 2019, 4:50 PM
A total of 13 prisoners facing deportation have got a new lease of life thanks to an Indian businessman who paid for their air tickets. The men were released from jail on Monday, October 14 and will soon fly home.
Indian businessman Joginder Singh Salaria, the chairman and managing director of Pehal International Transport and founder of Pehal Charitable Trust (PCT Humanity) purchased one-way flight tickets for 13 prisoners from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Uganda, Afghanistan, Nigeria, China, and Ethiopia, in coordination with Dubai Police authorities. The prisoners, according to Salaria, were imprisoned for committing minor crimes and have completed their jail term.
"Unfortunately, the men could not afford to pay for the air tickets. Dubai Police works with PCT Humanity on several charitable activities, including blood donation campaigns. Now, we are providing travel assistance to 13 people from different countries so they can fly home to meet with their families," Salaria told Khaleej Times.
He added, "Police authorities provided us with a list of names of prisoners. Most of the convicts were jailed for committing minor crimes such as overstay cases and small disputes with their employers, etc. They did not have anyone to help them out."
Dubai Police, according to Salaria, were very cooperative and supporting in this endeavour. "PCT Humanity is very thankful to Dubai Police for giving us an opportunity to help these prisoners. We have also expressed to authorities that we will continue to help them in this regard. We will continue providing such legal assistance to people, irrespective of their caste, religion and country."
Earlier this year, Salaria installed over 60 hand pumps in a poverty-stricken district of Pakistan's southeastern Sindh province. Khaleej Times reported PCT Humanity's initiative to install 62 water pumps in Tharparkar district with the help of local social workers, after knowing the plight of the area through social media. He also sent bags of grains to the community.
Salaria has been a UAE-resident since 1993 and reached out to social workers in Pakistan via social networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube established contacts with them and funded the entire operation.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com
E-Paper
Sign In
0°C 
