Helping hands: World’s ‘largest’ volunteer force to raise funds for IDPs

The force will consist of students from schools, colleges and universities.

LAHORE:

The world’s largest volunteer force would be formed in the Punjab to help the people displaced in the wake of a security operation in North Waziristan, Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan announced on Wednesday.

He was chairing a meeting of vice chancellors of public universities at the Government College University (GCU).

The meeting decided that educational institutions would raise funds for internally displaced persons (IDPs) with the help of students.

Without elaborating how many volunteers would be part of the force, the minister said it would consist of students from schools, colleges and universities across the province.

Calling the volunteers ‘fundraisers’, he said members of the force would go door-to-door to collect funds for the relief and rehabilitation of the IDPs. He said he hoped the force would secure a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest volunteer youth force in the world.

The meeting decided that the funds raised by the volunteers would be contributed to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for IDPs.

Each university will form a ‘fundraisers unit’… the units will be interlinked through an online system for which a committee has been formed.

The minister said the volunteer force would also organise sporting events in cities across the province with the help of the Punjab Sports Board.

“The proceeds from the charity and fundraising matches, featuring national level players, will be spent on IDPs’ rehabilitation.”

Khan, who also holds the office of law minister, said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorists had entered a crucial stage. “It is vital that the nation, including political forces, stand united in these testing times.”

“The government will continue to help the IDPs until their rehabilitation. The people of the Punjab will lead from the front in that respect,” said Khan.

He said the IDPs would be given SIM cards that would help streamline the process of disbursing funds among them. He paid rich tributes to those who had rendered sacrifices in the fight against terrorists.

The meeting decided that faculty members and non-academic staff would donate a day’s salary for the IDPs.

The minister slammed the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan for his allegations regarding rigging in the May 2013 general elections. “Everyone has dismissed Imran’s accusations. Even the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are questioning his stance,” he said.

Commenting on Imran Khan’s announcement of organising a long march to Islamabad on August 14, he said everyone had the right to express their opinion in a democratic system.

However, he said, Imran Khan’s statement of “executing police officers” was disturbing. “Doesn’t it reflect a Taliban mindset when you talk about hanging police personnel?” the minister asked.

He said the government would implement the findings of the judicial commission probing the June 17 mayhem in Model Town in which 14 people were killed.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2014.