Highlights
- Danish Naqash, an IT professional has made an app to connect the community with volunteers
- Nearly 150 volunteers have registered to help those in need in their community
- The PCIA app is self-funded by Mr Naqash, who has received interest from local businesses for advertisement purposes
A couple of years after Danish Naqash came to Australia as an international student, he launched a free app to help the Pakistani community find restaurants, mosques, and South Asian grocery shops near them.
He has recently updated the app, PCIA (Pakistani Community In Australia), with a feature that connects volunteers with people who may be in need of help. Interested volunteers can register with the app to help members of the community.
“The PCIA app has been around for a long time. It has a list of restaurants, halal food shops, and even information on matrimonial matches,” Mr Naqash told SBS Urdu.
But now, he wanted to diversify the app to “make it a big volunteer platform” and urge the community “to come forward and help people in need”.
“Initially, we started this initiative for those people who were affected by COVID-19, but now, we are helping the community in every way, whether it's COVID-related or not. Whether you need a bike ride or a teammate to play cricket, you will find a volunteer,” added Mr Naqash who came to Australia in 2013.
Mr Naqash had posted on Facebook inviting volunteers to register on this app.
“Usually, we don’t know who lives in our neighbourhood. There may be someone around us who can help,” he added.
Giving three examples from this week, he dwelled upon how useful his app can be.
“A lady in Perth was in home isolation and needed a heater and a blanket. She sought help from the app and called three volunteers. All three reached her with blankets and heaters.
“A student caught in the New South Wales lockdown was in need of groceries. He called me to say thanks after volunteers left the grocery items at his door while he was asleep. Similarly, another guy who had just landed in Perth, needed a SIM card and a volunteer was there with one,” Mr Naqash added.
Does his app ensure the safety of the volunteers as well as the people seeking help?
“As we are in an early phase, we are monitoring it ourselves,” Mr Naqash said.
Recently, he learned about people using the app to seek financial benefits from others.
“Those users were blacklisted and blocked from the platform. For us, security and quality are of paramount importance,” he adds.
Mr Naqash told SBS Urdu that he has personally funded this app.
“I have been running this app out of my pocket, but now, businesses are beginning to show interest in advertising on it,” he added.
Currently, he said the app has around 10,000 downloads and nearly 150 volunteers are registered with it.
In the future, he plans to make an app for international students who have been facing problems and is planning to provide them 24/7 call support.
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