LONDON: A UK-based Pakistani businessman Tuesday launched a charity called “The Circle of Life” aimed at relieving poverty and sickness among the people of Pakistan at the Houses of Parliament. The official launch was hosted by Lord Nazir Ahmed who has been named as Ambassador for the charity.Speaking on the occasion, Lord Nazir praised the charity work in Vehari District of Punjab province where he said thousands of farmers are benefiting from the scheme launched by the UK based organisation which is also involved in charitable work in health.He praised the generosity of the British public and said this has been evident from the response to the last year floods that devastated large parts of Pakistan.Lord Ahmed also appreciated the rural healthcare initiatives of the charity especially the cattle and goat loan schemes for providing sustainable income to the poor of Vehari district.
Headed by Saeed Hama, a Pakistani entrepreneur based in Birmingham, the charity prior to its launch raised over 100,000 pounds sterling. Initially set up to relieve poverty and sickness amongst the people in Pakistan the charity has already donated to the Pakistan flood victims and Imran Khan’s hospital and his ‘100 Villages Rebuild Programme’, plus many other causes that include 19 water purification plants.Hama explained that the charity has so far loaned 500 cattle to the poor farmers which has helped them to transform their lives and earn a sustainable living by selling fresh non-diluted milk and contributing profits to generate back to support the activities of the foundation.He said the charity has also donated 20 water purification plants in the flood affected areas of Punjab and Nowshera in KP province and has been regularly organising free eye camps and donated artificial limbs among the disabled people.Annie Khalid, a popular British-Pakistan pop singer, also spoke on the occasion and said she will be working as a “goodwill ambassador” for the charity – APP
