Responding with urgency to the call for help, in earthquake-ravaged Pakistan, Pakistani-American Pervaiz Lodhie, owner of solid-state lighting manufacturer LEDtronics Inc., express-shipped 2,000 of his company's LED flashlights to Pakistan.
Learning of the critical need for sustainable portable lighting, Lodhie knew it was a task that he was uniquely positioned to fulfill. "It is ideal that LEDtronics specializes in energy-efficient, solid-state lighting. The flashlights were sitting in the stockroom ready to go," he says.
LED flashlights are perfect for use in the arduous conditions existing in post-quake Pakistan. Their ruggedly constructed exteriors and internal components are nearly indestructible. They operate for up to six continuous days on a set of batteries, unlike traditional flashlights, an important consideration due to the sporadic access to supplies. Additionally, LED flashlights eliminate the threats of burns, flames, fumes, spills, and explosions of kerosene-fueled lamps.
As Lodhie prepares another shipment of long-operating LED lighting products (solar-powered LED lanterns, LED candles and LED-illuminated safety vests) for the earthquake victims and rescuers, he is talking with competitors within his industry about contributing aid. "It's the time for us to rise above our differences and help in this human tragedy," he says. Lodhie offers to facilitate any donations to the relief effort. He works with Indus Earth Trust, an NGO dedicated to alleviating poverty in Pakistan and an organization with which Lodhie has collaborated with on many other projects, to handle the distribution of goods in Pakistan. Donations to the President Musharraf's Quake Relief Fund can be made to the Pakistan Embassy and Consulates.
www.LEDtronics.com.
www.embassyofpakistan.com
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