Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz briefs media about projects of MWF

In the light of teachings of Islam aimed at serving the suffering humanity, Minhaj Welfare Foundation launched an Orphan Home Care project by the name of ‘Aagosh’ for the accommodation and maintenance of the children orphaned in the devastating earthquake in 2005. This is a unique project of its kind as it has home-like state of the art facilities for the children where complete arrangements of upbringing and schooling of children have been made.

These views were expressed by Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz, acting Nazim-e-Ala, in his press interaction with the media men the other day. Nazim Minhaj Welfare Foundation, Dr Shahid Mahmood, iftikhar Shah Bokhari, Aqil Malik and Jawad Hamid were also preset on the occasion. Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz said that the first phase of Aagosh was started three years ago, which has all the facilities of education, food and upbringing for 100 children. He said that he was pleased to announce that construction on the mulit-storey building was on with great speed. The basement and ground floor of the building has been completed. This building would have all the modern facilities. In reply to a question, he said that the Aagosh would house 500 needy children where children would be provided home-like atmosphere. Every 25 children would have the facility of a caretaker mother. The children would be provided with milk and seasonal fruit in addition to the indoor and outdoor games facilities.

Telling details of other projects under Minhaj Welfare Foundation, Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz said that the concept of social development was incomplete without progress in educational field. Minhaj Welfare Foundation has catered to this particular field of education and established a network of educational institutions under the leadership of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. The Foundation has set up 617 schools, 43 colleges and one chartered university in the country within a short span of time.

He said that we are working in accordance of our leader’s motto that Sir Syed gave one Ali Garh, whereas we would give 100 such institutions to the nation. He said that MWF bore all expenses of the poor children who studied at the educational institutions of MQI. The deserving students are given school books and uniform for free. He said that it was yet another feather in the cap of MWF that it arranged collective marriages not only in Lahore but also in other parts of the country. Those poor parents, who cannot arrange dowry for their daughters, MWF has started this series of collective marriages to help these people.

Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz said that donations, Zakat and skins of animals on Eid-ul-Azha were the sources of finances for MWF. The cooperation of the affluent people was the sign of trust they reposed in MWF. Talking about Zakat, he said that if the arrangements for upbringing and education were to be made with it, one year’s Zakat could be enough for accommodation of 1 lac children. He told that new building of Aagosh would cost 340 million rupees and MWF would spend the whole of Zakat money on this project collected during the year. Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz said that the government was neither interested in addressing the hike issue nor was it so concerned with the national esteem and honour. The sudden surge in prices of sugar and other food items ahead of start of the holy month of Ramadan would result in unbearable difficulties for the poor during the fasting month. He said that it was the responsibility of the government to make necessities of life easily available during the month of Ramadan. He demanded of the government to immediately pay attention to this problem.