Qatar has always played a leading role in providing humanitarian assistance whenever natural calamity struck any part of the world, said AlKhidmat Foundation Pakistan (AKFP) Vice President Muhammad Abdus Shakoor.
“Qatar has always won praise for its humanitarian and charity assistance globally and is best known for disaster management. Be it Qatar Charity, Qatar Red Crescent Society, Qatar Fund for Development or any other organisation, Qatar has always been at the forefront of carrying out relief and rehabilitation work around the globe,” said Shakoor, in an interview with Qatar Tribune.
“Qatar is a ray of hope among the Muslim countries of the world and particularly won the hearts of Muslims around the world by promoting Muslim cultural values during the FIFA World Cup 2022,” he noted.
Shakoor, a humanist, philanthropist, educationist and entrepreneur, has served as President and Secretary General of Alkhidmat in the past as well.
AKFP is a non-political, non-governmental and non-profit organisation committed to serving humanity since 1990 in Pakistan. Alkhidmat’s workers and volunteers continue to work tirelessly for the relief of tragedy-hit people across Pakistan and worldwide.
AKFP’s dedicated services include disaster management, health services, education, orphan care, clean water provision, providing mawakhat (interest-free loan), and other community services.
Shakoor recently participated in relief activities for earthquake victims in Turkiye and Syria. During his visit to Doha, Pakistan Welfare Forum invited him to brief members of the Pakistani community about the role played by AKFP in the recent calamity.
“After the devastating earthquake hit Turkiye and Syria on February 6, I immediately flew to Turkiye on February 8 to participate in relief activities,” said Shakoor.
A 47-member AKFP Search and Rescue (SAR) team left for Turkiye on February 10. The mission operated under the command of the Ministry of Interior Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD Turkiye). The initiative was taken with the advice and collaboration of the Turkish Embassy, Islamabad and Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA Pakistan).
The delegates reached Adana via Istanbul and participated in SAR and relief activities in Adiyaman and Hatay. Nearly 600 winterised tents and 4,000 sleeping bags will soon be sent to Turkiye.
Dialysis Center, Diagnostic & Blood Bank will be established in Idlib, Syria while Alkhidmat Complex (orphanage) near Syrian border in Turkiye will also be established.
Shakoor also briefed community members about the relief and reconstruction projects carried out by AKFP during the recent floods in Pakistan. He urged them to participate in AKFP’s initiatives aimed at human development.
Giving details about AKFP, Shakoor said the forum renders services in seven different sectors. There are 5,500 permanent employees who include paramedics, doctors, and ambulance drivers while the rest of the staff work as volunteers including himself. AKFP has nine regional and 150 district/city offices.
“Alkhidmat is expanding its horizon and striving to bring NGOs of Pakistan and other Muslim countries under one umbrella to work unitedly to address humanitarian issues like Rohingya, Palestine and others. We want to play a key role in resolving humanitarian issues of the Muslim world and aim to work with UN humanitarian bodies,” he said.
Regarding donors, Shakoor clarified that most of the funds are donated by individual donors whereas the corporate sector also actively supports Alkhidmat’s initiatives. “We have never faced financial issues during the past 10 years,” informed Shakoor while noting with pride that charity index in Pakistan is very high and people make generous donations. “Pakistan is among the top charity donating nations.”
Ahmad Toor, Head of Foreign Affairs Department, accompanied Shakoor during his visit to Doha. Shakoor also addressed the community members at an Iftar dinner hosted by Qatar Charity at Friends Culture Centre. He also gave an interview to Al Jazeera English.
He also called on Sheikh Ali Mohiuddin Ali Al-qaradaghi, a professor of the Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence, Qatar University, and Secretary General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS).
