AJK President pledges more care for orphans, vulnerable children

MUZAFFARABAD, April 29: The AJK President Sardar Masood Khan has stressed the people to treat orphans and vulnerable children like their own biological children, as it is obligatory for the affluent and conscientious members of the society to play their active role for the betterment of the lives of disadvantageous children.

He was addressing a function organised here by Pakistan Orphan Care Forum (POCF) to mark World Orphans Day. The day is observed by the Muslim world on the 15th of Ramadan every year in line with the decision of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The day is also observed as a means to honour the children and to remind all member states to make concerted efforts to extend relief and provide protection to them.

The state president emphasised that Muslims are commanded to behave orphans with courtesy and politeness to help them grow as successful members of society. This, he said can only be possible by treating them equally as guided by the Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW). “Extending caring hands to orphans is a cause particularly dear to the Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) heart,” he said adding that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was also an orphan, his father passed away before his birth, and his mother had also passed away when he was a young child.

Appreciating efforts of a charity organisation for the welfare of disadvantageous children and make their life meaningful, the AJK President said that to ensure that the orphans and vulnerable children grow up under proper care and support is not a sole responsibility of the government and the charity organisations but also of the affluent and conscientious people.He especially praised the role of Read Foundation and Al-Khidmat Foundation for their social initiatives to cater to the needs of orphans, widows, and other vulnerable children relating to their education, health and livelihood.

The AJK President said he is very delighted to mention that volunteers of Al-Khidmat Foundation have reached to the deserving people residing in the most remote and faraway locations in the country and provided relief goods to them during the current coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking on the occasion, the AJK Minister for Social Welfare, Naureen Arif expressed her profound gratitude to the state President Sardar Masood Khan for hosting the event and bringing in orphans and destitute children from all over the liberated territory.

Chairman AJK Public Accounts Committee, Abdul Rashid Turrabi said it is a matter of great satisfaction that President Sardar Masood Khan has further enhanced the prestige and grace of his office by keeping the doors of the Presidency open for those working for the Kashmir liberation struggle and always encouraged those engaged in the socio-economic development of the liberated area.