Islamabad :
International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) Saturday donated 2200 sewing machines for onward distribution among poor and internally displaced women of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit?Baltistan (GB) and the Punjab. The sewing machines were handed over by Aljourah Abdullah A Alarifi, wife of Saudi ambassador in Pakistan here at IIRO office.
The ceremony was also attended by Managing Director Pakistan Baitul Mal Barrister Abid Waheed Shiekh Social Welfare Minister AJK Farzana Yaqoob, ex?Minister KP Sittara Imran, Ambassador of Lebanon and Regional Director General IIRO Dr Abda Bin Muhammad Ibrahim Atteen. Special delegate from Saudia Arabia Sheikh Al Zanati also attended the ceremony.
Addressing the ceremony Aljourah Abdullah A Alarifi lauded the efforts of IIRO and said that these were the right steps for empowerment of women. She said that for the first time, IIRO initiated sewing machine project to help poor women and it would help people alot.She said this project will lead the society of the poor needy ones to a better tomorrow and enhance their financial status.
Managing Director Pakistan Baitul Mal (PBM) Barrister Abid Waheed Sheikh appreciated the efforts of IIRO of distributing sewing machines among poor women. He said that PBM should collaborate with IIRO for eliminating poverty and enabling poor people to lead an honorable life.He said PBM is running 11 different projects to provide various social safety services to orphans, widows, disabled and other needy persons. He said Pakistan Baitul Mal has established 168 vocational training centres for women empowerment and 157 national centers for rehabilitation of child labor. Minister for Social Welfare AJK Farzana Yaqoob appreciated IIRO for distributing sewing machines among poor women. She said that Saudi Arabia has always stood by Pakistan in difficult hours including earthquake in 2005 and floods of 2010 and 2011.
Abda Bin Muhammad Atteen said that the relief activities are underway under the supervision of Khadim Al?Haramain Al?Sharifain Ambassador Abdul Aziz Bin Ibrahim Al Ghadeer, to help Pakistani brothers and sisters. He said that Pakistan and Saudia Abrabia are tied in strong brotherly relations, adding that in all difficult times Saudi organizations will extend help to their Pakistani brothers.
source: http://www.pakobserver.net / Pakistan Observer / Home / by Zubair Qureshi / Islamabad – Sunday, April 06th, 2014