Relief efforts continue amid lockdown in Karachi

Scope of ration distribution sees significant increase in Ramazan

KARACHI: As the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing lockdown continue to wreak havoc in the country, depriving many of their livelihoods and leaving scores out of business, Karachi's philanthropists have stepped forward to help those worst hit in these troubling times.

In fact, besides the city's philanthropists, various religious, political and social welfare organisations, too, have been partaking in relief activities, regularly distributing rations among the destitute.

"The scope of ration distribution has been expanded by a significant degree in Ramazan, so that poor families too are able observe the month with as few worries as possible and celebrate Eid in the same way as more privileged people," Imranul Haq, a volunteer from a social welfare organization, told The Express Tribune.



"Individuals who previously preferred to donate money to charity and welfare organisations are also now seen increasingly engaged in funding ration distribution drives and giving money for distributing Eid gifts among the poor," he claimed.

In Karachi in particular, ration distribution drives have gained momentum in Kharadar, Mithadar, Saddar, Ranchhor Line, Garden, PIB Colony, Defence Housing Authority (DHA) , Clifton, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Nazimabad, North Karachi, Landhi, Korangi, Malir and old city areas.

According to Haji Taslim, a volunteer at a ration distribution drive in Liaquatabad, citizens who have initiated such campaigns on their own get ration bags packed under their supervision, and then either distribute them themselves or hand them over to a non-profit organisation for disbursement.

According to records provided by Haq, ration bags worth between Rs7,000 and Rs15,000 are being distributed among the poor in Karachi on a regular basis, while most bags being distributed fall in the range of Rs3,000 to Rs5,000. These bags contain flour, sugar, rice, peanuts, lentils, gram flour, ghee, oil and spices, among other items, in enough quantities to meet a family's needs for 15 days.

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As many as 550,000 such ration bags have been distributed by the Saylani Welfare Trust since the commencement of lockdown relief efforts, said trust's spokersperson Raees Fatta. "The organisation aims to distribute millions of more ration bags and thousands of Eid gifts by the end of Ramazan," he added.

Similarly, Ahmad Raza Tayyab, the trustee of Mustafa Welfare Trust, said that the organisation had distributed ration among over 10,000 families to date, as well as rice among 80,000 more.

Alkhidmat Foundation director community services Qazi Syed Sadruddin said that his welfare organisation had provide rations to 500,000 households since the lockdown, and Ramazan Chippa of the Chippa Welfare Organisation said that they had distributed rations among 300,000 families.

According to Faisal Edhi, chief of the Edhi Foundation, his organisation had provided rations to 200,000 families so far, while Alamgir Welfare Trust joint secretary Shakeel Dehlvi stated that they had distributed rations among over 100,000 families.

Zafar Abbas of the Jafaria Disaster Management Cell shared that they had distributed hundreds of thousands of ration bags among the needy and aimed to achieve the target of disbursing at least two million bags. Besides, more than 200,000 bags and Eid gift have been distributed by the Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation, said Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan spokesperson Aminul Haq.

According to Mahmood Attari of Dawat-e-Islami, the organisation has distributed over 400,000 bags thus far and aims to help at least 2.6 million families.

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Furthermore, 200,000 bags have been distributed by the Pak Sarzameen Party and more than 100,000 families have received assistance from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf till now.
Pakistan Public Forum chairperson Tahir Hussain Syed said that his organisation had distributed rations among 2,000 families, and Mubashir Raza of the Anjuman-e-Zia-e-Taiba told The Express Tribune that they had provided aid to 500 families.

Sunni Tehreek spokesperson Faheem qadri said that the party had distributed ration among 6,000 families and, according to Global Foundation head Ahmed Qadri, the organisation has distributed 7,000 ration bags thus far.

Moreover, as many as 500,000 families have received aid from the Pakistan People's Party's Sindh chapter.