Giving back: Rs100 m spent by FDT on social welfare projects

Commissioner suggests trust develop, maintain 350 parks in the city.

FAISALABAD:

“The Faisalabad Development Trust (FDT) has been very generous in contributing towards innovative social welfare projects in the city. We will extend full support and assistance in helping it transform Faisalabad into a dynamic modern metropolis,” Divisional Commissioner Najam Ahmad Shah said at a ceremony arranged by the FDT on Wednesday.

Shah distributed Rs1.5 million among deserving students and patients.

He said that several young industrialists had come together to form the FDT which had launched several projects in the education, health, environment and policing sectors.



“However, I believe that the FDT should focus on a single sector and launch innovative projects to develop it,” he said, “That will help them develop expertise in the sector and help other organisations replicate their projects. This would create synergy.”

Shah said Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar had undertaken to ensure supply of safe drinking water in all public schools in the province. The FDT could contribute to that project by donating water treatment plants for schools in the district.
“There are 350 parks that have been neglected due to a paucity of funds. The FDT could consider developing and maintaining those,” he said.

He said the textile industry was the hallmark of Faisalabad. “I have noticed that many Faisalabad residents go to other cities to purchase materials produced here,” said Shah, “The district administration can allot a suitable piece of land for a centre where industrial units can showcase their cloth here.”

He said the governor had allocated Rs40 billion for various development projects. The air port will be improved- its runway and apron expanded, the road connecting Jhang Road to the terminal will be built afresh and a beautiful airport building constructed, Shah said.

A ring road had been proposed for Faisalabad, he said. Entrepreneurs could invest in its development.
Regional Police Officer Mian Javed Islam lauded the technical and financial assistance for the Industry Police Liaison Committee. “This would help us improve law and order in the city,” he said.

The RPO said that the check posts constructed by the Industrial Police Liaison committee would be provided the required staff to man them.
FDT Chairman Mian Shaiq Jawed said that the FDT had spent Rs100 million on various welfare projects so far. “We aim to introduce a strategic development plan for poverty alleviation,” he said. The FDT has initiated several welfare schemes to help widows, orphans and deserving students among others, he said.

“We plan to build a housing colony with 500 two-marla houses for widows and orphans; a 100-bed thalassemia hospital and a chain of schools in collaboration with The Citizens’ Foundation,” Jawed said.
He said the trust had also allocated Rs5 million for medical assistance to poor cancer patients at the Allied Hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2013.