Adil Najam
Eid approaches. This not not a time to be depressed. But these are depressing times. Eid deserves an upbeat message and positive pictures. Soon, we promise, we will have these for you. But today, I cannot get this picture out of my head.
This picture, taken by Emilio Morenatti of the Associated Press, haunts me. As it should. Taken yesterday (Sunday) in Islamabad, the caption reads: “A Pakistani boy waits to get a ration of donated food before Iftar, the time to break their fast, during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.”
Usually, we want our readers to comment on our posts. Today, I don’t care if you do or do not. What can you say? What can I say? What can any one of us say as we look at the expression on this child’s face. I do not care if you comment on this, but please do THINK about it. Maybe, as you think, you shoudl also listen to the “yeh bacha kis ka bacha hai” whcih we had first posted here.
For those of us who have lived long in Islamabad, this is one more reminder that this, too, is Islamabad!
Birth control, anyone? One child per family?
Is that not better than having 6-7 children that you cannot feed or clothe or educate, who become beggars, or worse?
Viqar,
I think this is a noble and good idea. I will also be willing to contribute to such a cause and I am sure others here would also want to.
I wonder if it is a good idea to try to set up something new since managing and running this will not be easy at all.
Maybe a better approach is to pool our resources and ask ATP or ourselves to contribute to the many organizations doing such work. Like Eidee Foundation, Imran Khan’s hospital, Human Development Foundation, or DIL or Citizen Foundation. There are many good examples and while they may not now be working exactly on thsi issue I am sure there and many who are.
I just worry about creating more new organizations when running them practically is not easy.
One thought I had was to find enough people to pitch in $1000.00 each for seed money. Then we can keep adding to it continously through whatever amount anyone can contribute as aofte as they can (say $5/month).
The aim should be to eventually develop the fund to the level where the investment income from it can feed the children one square meal/day.
I am willing to pitch in $1000.00.
… Sorry, that should be one meal a day, every day, to all the hungry children …
I would like us, through Pakistaniat, to establish a fund to provide at least one meal to all the hungry children, anywhere, in Pakistan.
How can we do it? Can ATP help? Ideas, thoughts …