Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira Thursday stressed joint efforts for the social uplift of shelterless children to bring them into the mainstream.
“Orphans in developing countries are usually left helpless or in religious seminaries where sometimes they are taught extremism,” said the information minister addressing the Children Festival and Cultural Exhibition organized by Indonesian Embassy in Collaboration with Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal. The event was attended by around 140 children of Sweet Homes Islamabad, who took part in various competitions, including tug-of-war, drawing, spoon, marble and sack races, Jalebi eating and musical chair.
The festival was also attended by Indonesian Ambassador Ishak Latuconsina and his spouse, Managing Director PBM Zamurd Khan, Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Robina Sadat Qaimkhani, wife of Saudi Ambassador in Pakistan Aljouhrah Al Arifi and an Austrian delegation.
The information minister said the visit of various embassieswould give the children know-how of various cultures and broadentheir horizon. He lauded the performance of PBM and said with ZamurdKhan’s appointment, the organization was totally different.
He said the PBM’s plan to establish a Sweet Home for girls and added that inculcating such talent in the children is an effort that should be applauded.
Qamar Zaman Kaira said PBM is role model for other organizations of the country as Zamurd Khan has improved it as a corruption-free entity.
Managing Director PBM Zamurd Khan said currently 2800 children are staying in Sweet Homes and that some philanthropists have adopted 900 children. He said the PBM would take care of every registered child in Sweet Homes till graduation, hoping that the Sweet Homes network would soon be expanded countrywide.
He said the PBM would soon set up a Sweet Home for girls in Islamabad and that another Sweet Home would start functioning in Sector F-11 for 60 children.
The Indonesian Ambassador said the event has been organized to provide care-free moments of joy to children and show our affection and respect for them.
“Children are the hope and future of a nation and need our special care and attention. It is especially important to work out collectively for care and welfare of children who are passing through a difficult phase of their lives,” said the ambassador. Besides, he said, as Muslims, it is our obligation tolook after the deserving children properly that is a pride and hallmark of Muslim society.
