Corporate generosity: PDO, CBO, Sohar Port, Galfar pitch in with assistance
Responding to the government’s heartfelt appeal for financial assistance to be channeled to communities hit hard by Cyclone Shaheen earlier this week, a number of public and private sector organisations have pledged millions of Omani riyals worth of aid – financial and material.
Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the biggest oil and gas producer of the Sultanate, announced an allocation of RO 10 million to support ongoing relief and recovery efforts in areas devastated by the storm.
On Wednesday, the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) together with the Omani banking sector pledged RO 7 million in welfare support for people affected by the cyclone. “The amount shall be aggregated from the income the Central Bank of Oman and the banking sector receives as fees from various payment systems transactions conducted over the next five months,” the apex bank said in a statement.
The Central Bank said it would coordinate with the concerned government organisations to transfer the amounts to the bank accounts designated for disbursing aid and relief funds to the affected people.
Earlier, the CBO called upon all banks operating in the Sultanate to proactively contribute in mitigating the repercussions of the tropical cyclone by directly donating to the accounts designated for the purpose.
“It may be noted that the financial assistance being extended by CBO and the banking sector is part of their corporate social responsibility endeavor, and their commitment for the national cause to contribute their bit in the welfare of those affected by the direct impact of the Cyclone,” it further stated.
Sizable pledges were also announced on Wednesday by Oman LNG, Bank Muscat, Bank Sohar, Bank Nizwa, OMINVEST, and Oman Cement, among other corporates.
Sohar Port and Freezone announced a donation of RO 250,000 to Oman Charitable Organisation (OCO) as assistance in support of cyclone relief efforts underway in the flood affected governorates.
Leading Omani contracting firm Galfar Engineering and Contracting SAOG said it was “harnessing its capabilities” in assisting various government agencies, backed by volunteers, in the rehabilitation of roads and public areas covered silt and debris in the wake of Cyclone Shaheen’s sweep through north Oman.
“Galfar continues its support for the national recovery efforts in different areas affected by Cyclone Shaheen by utilizing its capabilities to rehabilitate roads and ensure the continuity and ease of movement in line with the great efforts by volunteers and different entities,” the publicly listed company said in a post.
(Picture: Nasser al Harassi)
