Terrorist attack victim's NZ workplace fundraises for his Pakistani family who relied on his income

March 27, 2019

Accountant Syed Areeb Ahmed would send part of his income from PWC back home to his family in Pakistan.

The bodies of some of those killed in the Christchurch terrorist attack have started arriving back in their home countries. 

It comes as ACC confirms it is paying entitlements such as funeral grants to the families of all 50 victims, and survivors.

Mourners in Karachi prayed over the body of terrorist attack victim Syed Areeb Ahmed, repatriated to his homeland.

Nine Pakistani men were killed on March 15 and Areeb, as he was known to friends, was among them.

He had no family in New Zealand.

Areeb's family back home relied on his income. So his workplace, PwC, has set up a Givealittle fundraising page to help them.

"We're really keen to ensure that his family has the support and to help them through this terrible tragedy," PwC chief executive Mark Averill told 1 NEWS.

"People talk a lot about his great sense of humour. He was extremely dedicated and really wanted to learn. So in the time with us he was a really valued member of the team," he said of Areeb.

The Pakistani Association of Canterbury helped with the repatriation of Areeb's body.

But the association is also vowing to continue to provide moral support to the families and to the one Pakistani injured survivor for as long as needed.

This is "to bring them into the community so they can socialise with other people and they don't feel loneliness and they don't feel isolated," said Kalim Ullah, President of the Pakistani Association of Canterbury.

The fundraising page for Areeb is one of dozens set up for victims of the terrorist attack.

The Pakistani Association has set up one of its own, and the main Givealittle page for Victim Support has so far reached nearly $9 million.

Counselling groups say workplaces will be dealing with the ripples of emotion caused by the attacks in a variety of ways, including fundraising.

"It can be a way of feeling they can contribute, a way of feeling they can support people. So it can be positive," said Warwick Harvey, Benestar chief executive.

Some of those left behind are new to New Zealand and don't know some of the basics of Kiwi life.

Mr Ullah said this incudes not knowing how to open a bank account or how to go for a driver's license and the Pakistani Association is "trying to bring them into the mainstream community".

The community is determined to help not just their own, but all those affected.

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