Pakistan has faced a series of humanitarian challenges from earthquake in 2005 to floods in 2010 and 2011, but with the support of partners, it has been able to tackle these challenges and work on programmes for the long term development of the people, said President Dr. Arif Alvi while talking to a delegation of Islamic Relief Worldwide, led by its CEO Mr. Naser Haghamed, who called on him at the Aiwan-i-Sadr Islamabad today. The President appreciated the role played by Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) especially in the social sector of the country. He emphasized that mosques could play a pivotal role in highlighting as well as addressing social issues such as women empowerment, climate change, population control, unhealthy lifestyle, and hardships of people with disabilities.
The President said that Pakistan was one of the most affected countries by climate change and the Government was working with all stakeholders to launch projects regarding disaster mitigation, adaptation and risk reduction. He appreciated Islamic Relief’s support to Government institutions in various domains including health, disaster risk reduction, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) and education. He urged Islamic Relief to work in collaboration with the local health departments for provision of necessary resources and infrastructure in order to help Government provide free health services to the most deserving segments through its Sehat Sahulat programme. He reiterated that the Government believed in inclusive and sustainable development of the country and invited Islamic Relief Worldwide to support the ongoing Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Program of Higher Education Commission, Pakistan.
Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) was established in 1984 by Dr Hany El-Banna in response to the famine in Africa. To date, IRW has established offices in over 40 countries. Since 1992, it has remained active in providing relief during all major natural disasters in Pakistan including the Sindh cyclone of 1999, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa displacement crisis of 2009, floods of 2010 and 2011. Apart from disaster relief, IRW is also committed to issues like gender justice, women empowerment, climate change, and people with disabilities.
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