Hussain Dawood Pledge
The Hussain Dawood Pledge (HD-Pledge) is one of the biggest private donations and initiatives to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. Hussain Dawood, on behalf of Engro, Dawood Hercules and his family pledged on 2 April 2020 a contribution in services, kind, and cash of Pakistani rupee (PKR) 1 billion (~6 million USD). The contribution became public a day after Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the coronavirus relief fund to fight the pandemic and urged everyone to donate. Purpose & Context. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus in 2019 and the first proven case in Pakistan  on 26th February 2020, the government initiated measures to prevent the spread. The HD-Pledge was started as an initiative to support various organisations active in the healthcare system and to support measures against the spread of COVID-19 to reduce the impact. Targets. With the publication of the pledge, it was announced that the four key areas are: Implementation. The HD-Pledge funds are disbursed primarily through The Dawood Foundation and Engro Foundation. The pledge management, a dedicated committee composed of leadership figures of Mr. Dawood's business enterprises and associated philanthropic foundations headed by Sabrina Dawood, developed the overarching  strategy and is assessing applications for funds according to the criteria of sustainable impact and saving lives. The funds are open to any credible organisation, whether public and private hospitals, NGO, private enterprises, or foundations, who can apply. Achievements. To date (August 2021), PKR 497,870,000 or almost 49% of the fund of the HD-Pledge have been donated via cash and kind. Some selected examples of how this amount was donated: Partners. The following entities have partnered with the HD-Pledge (as of August 2021). Partners on Disease Prevention Partners in Enabling Healthcare practitioners Partners in Enabling Patient Care Partner  in Bolstering livelihoods & sustenance