Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, patron-in-chief of Minhaj Welfare Foundation, has declared to accommodate 500 flood-stricken children in the Orphan Care Home (Aghosh). ‘Aghosh’ would solely be responsible for the provision of all residential facilities and education to these children. Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz, acting Secretary General of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, said this in a press conference in the MQI’s central secretariat in Model Town today. He said that in the wake of devastating earthquake in October 2005, Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri had accommodated orphan children in the Aghosh who are getting education in the institution and living a complete life with all facilities. He said that the raging floods had broken all previous records and the number of those who got affected was between 15 and 20 million people.

Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz said that Minahj Welfare Foundation was carrying out the relief and rescue operations in the flood-hit areas and hundreds of its workers and volunteers were busy rendering services in this regard. The chief highlight of the Foundation’s work was the establishment of Minhaj Tent Settlements where people were being provided with food items, clothes, water and other facilities. The process of registration of the orphan children, he added, was underway and people could contact relief camps or the central secretariat or e-mail at info@welfare.org.pk for registration purposes. The donations could be deposited in the Account no. 01970013529303. He said that Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri had declared to establish the Flood Relief Fund with the initial amount of 20 million rupees on the first day when the flood started causing havoc.

Giving details about the relief and rescue operations being carried out by the Minhaj Welfare Foundation, Director of MWF, Iftikhar Shah Bokhari said that hundreds of workers of the Foundation were busy helping the people in different parts of the country. 5000 people have received financial help, while more than 15000 people have been housed in the camps set by the Foundation. He said that MWF has set up ‘Minhaj Tent Settlement’ in Noshera, which has accommodated more than 1000 people. All residential facilities are being provided to the residents in a befitting manner. Due to low standard food items and contaminated water, diseases of different kinds are spreading in the camps set up by the government. In order to take care of this problem, MWF has made sure that good quality food is made available for the residents of the Tent Settlement. It has also established a plant of mineral water so that no epidemics could spread due to water.

Iftikhar Shah Bokhari said that the flood also damaged schools buildings and MWF would also participate in the construction process of these schools. He said that a caravan of 25 truck carrying relief goods for Noshehra and flood affected areas of Punjab and Sindh would depart on August 13 and more trucks would join the caravan once it passes through Muridkay, Deena, Gujranwala and Gujrat. He said that central leaders of Minhaj-ul-Quran International would celebrate the Independence Day with the flood affectees as a mark of solidarity with them. A ceremony would be held in the Minhaj Tent Settlement in Noshehra in this regard where acting Secretary General of MQI Sheikh Zahif Fayyaz would be the guest of honour. He appealed to the affluent sections of society to come forward and join hands with Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri for provision of maximum help to our brethren who have been hit hard by the floods.