Tazeen Akhtar |
From Islamabad Thanks to Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, we had a very productive and constructive discussion at a dinner hosted by him to connect with an organization that is working in Ziarat, Balochistan on eradication of poverty through quality education. It was no doubt astonishing as well as encouraging for us that all is not dark in this province of beautiful landscapes and brave people.
Yes! AL-HIJRAH Schools Trust brings positive vibes from a province that mostly remains in the news for negative reasons, but not everything is discouraging there. Hope is still alive and we can look forward to a better future for this most backward province. We can also expect an end to terrorism, tribalism and separatism in this part of Pakistan.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, having a lot of work on the issues of this province and contributing to the solutions through his meetings, speeches and writings, visited Balochistan and spent a couple of days in Quetta only a week ago, where he was a guest speaker at NDU forums where the matters of national integrity and unity are discussed.
On his return to Islamabad, he hosted a nationally encouraging get-together over dinner at Islamabad Club between the administration of AL-HIJRAH , the founder Mohammad Abdul Karim Saqib (Sitara e Imtiaz) , officials of the trust and some senior media persons. Ambassador R. Asif Ali Khan Durrani, who is basically a journalist , was also present.
AL-HIJRAH is providing free education and boarding & lodging to 380 students from all districts of Balochistan at its main campus in Ziarat, with residential school and college near the Quaid-e-Azam Residency where the Founder of Pakistan spent his last days during his illness.
AL-HIJRAH seeks its guidelines from the teachings of Quaid-e-Azam and is spreading his message of “Humanity, Islam and Pakistanism” through education in this province for the last 22 years.
It was the initiative of Mr. Saqib and his brother who are Overseas Pakistanis based in Birmingham, UK. Out of their passion for Pakistan, they selected Balochistan for their mission to eradicate poverty through quality education, only because this province needs more attention than others with respect to development and opportunities.
In 2004, they started the school from Class 6th to Intermediate in Ziarat and soon made it an example for others to follow. At that time, they selected 2 intelligent children from each district of the province whose parents’ income was less than Rs. 150,000 per annum. Now the criteria is less than Rs. 450,000 per annum according to inflation.
In the last two decades, AL-HIJRAH has contributed a lot in spreading education in the whole of Balochistan, strengthening national unity and uplifting the deprived segments of society, improving their lives.
A large number of students of this Trust are now serving others in this province and in the whole country in different sectors, including as doctors in the medical field, in civil services and the military.Among the students who are now in practical life, more than 150 are Doctors and the same number are Engineers in different fields. More than 700 students got scholarships for their higher studies.
AL-HIJRAH is now setting up another campus in Dera Ghazi Khan where intelligent students from underprivileged children of rural Sindh and South Punjab will be admitted for free education.
Classes have commenced at the newly established campus, successfully completing the first phase of student induction, with more than 35 students now enrolled out of a targeted 60. The ongoing efforts involve actively recruiting the remaining students from various areas in Sindh and Punjab.
Al-Hijrah Trust , first set up a school in Birmingham quarter century ago and started this journey with 800 students from Muslim communities especially from Pakistan. Abdul Karim Saqib shared that no student of this school was involved in any crime and no FIR was every registered against any while the prisons there were mostly filled with Muslims involved in different crimes.
This school promoted a harmoney among the students for East and the West , where they were living. The students were sensitized to carry the Islamic and oriental traditions with them but respect the laws and norms of the society where they are living.
Al-Hijrah Schools project is driven by a strong sense of commitment and gratitude, recognizing the transformative impact it will have on the lives of these students and their communities. It represents a beacon of hope and a meaningful step towards a brighter future.
This is an example for others to follow! This is a lesson for others to play their role in supporting the community in any way they can! This is a hope for our next generations to give them a peaceful Pakistan!
