The Ramazan spirit: Twin city philanthropy offers mighty spread

From transgenders to young professionals, iftar offered for the poor and needy

ISLAMABAD: With one of the messages of Ramazan being caring and sharing with those less fortunate, the sight of people sharing food at iftar has become an increasingly common sight in the twin cities this year. The beauty of this is it brings together all kinds of people together.

Among those setting up long and generous spreads in busy marketplaces and along the greenbelt, a small group of people who are transgender set up a spread near Sector F-11 Markaz.

Bijli, who is a transgender, is the in-charge of the drive, ensuring that clean mats and utensils are set up and that there is adequate food for the needy in the area.



“This is the first time we are serving iftar to the needy people,” Bijli told The Express Tribune, adding, “I feel immense pleasure doing this.”

Bijli added that they serve a modest meal consisting of fritters, samosas, some rice and a refreshingly chilled drink, adding that they had slowly expanded their drive to three different localities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.



This particular iftar in Sector F-11 Markaz is part of a larger food drive. The campaign was initiated by artist and motivational speaker Muniba Mazari around two years ago. Before Ramazan, Mazari used to attend the drive every week.

After offering Asar prayers, Bijli gets down to preparing for the evening’s spread. But the biggest challenge for the drive is not the preparation.

“Earlier, there was a time when people were reluctant to take food from me just because I am a transgender. But now, they happily take food from me,” Bijli said.



“It is perhaps because now every evening people see me diligently serving food to the needy with lots of care, love and responsibility,” she offered.

“It has helped to build a relationship of trust between me and them (the people). And it has also given me the confidence that a transgender can play an important role to serve humanity rather than just begging or entertaining people at functions through singing and dancing,” she said.

She added that people now come to her and voluntarily contribute.

The drive in Sector F-11 Markaz, though, is not the only one in the twin cities. A group of young professionals and students have been running one during Ramazan in Islamabad and Rawalpindi called “Feed the World”.



“We have been doing this since 2013 and so far we have distributed over 200,000 meals among deserving people,” said Syed Hasan Bokhari, who is a lawyer.

“We just collect money from our friends, families and relatives,” he explains.

Bokhari added that during Ramazan, they try to distribute around 2,500 meals among attendants in public hospitals and the needy in mosques.

“We distribute cooked rice, a few dates and a water bottle among attendants,” he said.

The young lawyer added that the only thing that really entices them about the philanthropic activity is the immense pleasure the feel doing it.

“While distributing food among the needy, we come across some people who cannot even afford to buy dates or to eat a proper meal in iftar due to poverty. They usually break their fast by drinking water from any tap or water cooler installed in the hospital,” he said.

Another mega food distribution spot during Ramazan is in Gawalmandi area of Rawalpindi which resembles a traditional communal dole or “langar”.

It is arranged by a few well-to-do local philanthropists. It serves over 2,500-3,000 deserving people every day.



“We make special arrangements for the needy and make utmost efforts to make attendants feel comfortable and treat them like guests,” said Shehbaz who volunteers at the dole every evening.

“Most of the people who come there are daily wage labourers, beggars and people living in nearby slums,” he said, adding that they serve fritters, samosas, rice, drinks, fruits and dates.

“We try to arrange food which is not only in ample quantity but also of the best quality”, Shehbaz said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2017.