Elites enjoy amnesty schemes while the poor suffer: Raza Rabbani

ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani said Saturday that service to humanity is the hallmark of this society, however, the state is only working to serve the interests of the elites of the society.

He said this while addressing participants of an event hosted by Azmat Pakistan Foundation to share the achievements and success story of Akhuwat, the world’s largest interest-free microfinance provider.

The Senate chairman observed that, unfortunately, after every five or six years, the government announced amnesty schemes that waived off all the loans borrowed by the elites. He said that such policies have brought the country under immense economic stress and the situation had gone from bad to worse. Amnesty schemes were not the proper remedy to fix the problem, he added.

He said that Akhuwat had made a difference in this regard as its targeted the poor and destitute communities in the society. He appreciated the achievement made by Akhuwat regarding bringing change in the socio-economic outlook of the marginalised segments of the society, and said that the poor/working class of the country wanted to work with honesty and there was a dire need to patronise them.

Rabbani also lauded Akhuwat’s collaboration with Azmat Pakistan Foundation and said that the construction of a school for out-of-school children belonging to poor communities was a step in the right direction.  He said that there was no dearth of individuals who really wanted to serve the community but they remained unnoticed because their contributions were not highlighted by the state.

Senate Secretary Amjad Pervez Malik, who is also the founding member of Azmat Pakistan Foundation, said that the foundation aimed to contribute and mobilise resources for opening windows of opportunity, learning and grooming for people belonging to the disadvantaged and underprivileged segments of the society.

The ceremony was also addressed by Akhuwat founder Dr Amjad Saqib, former Naval Chief Asif Sandhela, and Azmat Pakistan Foundation Director Nasir Nazir Dar. Meanwhile, the Minister for Human Rights Mumtaz Ahmed Tarar, senators and people from different walks of life also attended the event.