Waseemuddin Hashmi's Syed Foundation continues making waves

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Syed Foundation (SF), a not for profit and nonpartisan charity trust, has been working actively to achieve its cherished goals since its inception in 2018. Registered under Trust Act, this welfare and development entity has been formed by a group of Syed Family members and friends in Karachi to extend their services to the poor, vulnerable and less privileged people of the society and assist the disaster affected people in Pakistan. It has the status of NPO under section 2(36) of Income Tax Ordinance 2001. 

Striving for a vision of a socially and economically sustainable society where no one sleeps hungry and all people enjoy their basic human rights, it has been working with missionary zeal to serve needy people in best possible way through relief and development assistance in partnership. 

The thematic areas of the SF are Orphan Support and Wellbeing, Youth Development and Sports Promotion, Food Safety and Security, Economic Development, Relief and Rehabilitation and Education and Children’s Development while the cross-cutting themes include Collaboration and Partnership Development, Environment Conservation besides Women Rights and Gender Mainstreaming. 

The aims and objectives of the SF revolve around facilitating the Women, Children, Senior Citizens belonging to less privileged sections of society by providing financial assistance, skill training, tool kits and mentoring in collaboration with partner NGOs, academia and other like-minded organizations. 

They motivate lower income groups including women in establishing small scale business units to enable them earn their livelihood honourably. It has continued to organize regularly hunger elimination projects like distribution of free ration, free meals for poor and deserving people. 

It has reached out needy children and provided financial support in their education by means of scholarships. The SF has helped disaster survivors by providing water, sanitation, hygiene assistance, medical support, food and shelter and other routine needs. 

It has provided assistance to the poor patients by providing medicines, medical treatment, hospitalization and other health facilities. As a part of its mandate, the SF also offers interest free microloans and financial literacy training to empower low-income families, provide vocational training programs equip individuals 

The SF implements community-based kitchen gardening, provide food to orphans, poor families and organize food drives that provide essential food supplies to vulnerable populations, particularly during emergencies, to combat malnutrition. It focuses on women’s empowerment through training and capacity-building initiatives, enabling them to participate in decision-making processes and economic activities. 

The SF has partnered with governmental and non-governmental organizations to enhance the effectiveness of its programs and expand its reach. Its day-to-day operations are managed by a team of five trustees, who volunteer their services and resources to achieve the trust’s predetermined aims and objectives as outlined in the Trust Deed. 

The President, selected by the trustees serves as the head of the organization, who manages the organizational affairs on behalf of the trustees. 

Syed Waseemuddin Hashmi, is the Founder President of the Syed Foundation. He had formed the organization together with other trustees in 2018. A celebrated tax lawyer and corporate consultant, he is a highly respected sports administrator besides being social activist and an eminent philanthropist. He is the motivating force behind the success of the foundation. He has hired a team of professionals to manage the activities of the SF. Currently, the Chief Coordinator looks after the daily organizational matters, with the support of trained associates.

Manchar Lake: Major tourist attraction in Sindh needs attention

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The largest shallow fresh water lake of the country, Manchar Lake is situated at a distance of 18 kilometers from Sehwan Sharif on west side of the River Indus, in District Jamshoro. 

Acclaimed as one of the largest lakes of South Asia, it is one of the major tourist attractions in the province of Sindh. The area of the lake rise and fall with the change if seasons from little as 350 kilometers to as high as 520 kilometers. 

The lake accumulates water from numerous brooks in the Kirthar Mountains and empties them into the Indus River. Manchar is synthetic lake, created in 1930, when the Sukkur barrage was constructed on River Indus. It is sustained by two canals, the Aral and the Danister from the river Indus. 

The lake plays a crucial role in the local ecosystem and economy. It not only provides water for drinking and agriculture in nearby villages but is also home to 30-40 species of fish, supporting the livelihood of local fishermen. 

Additionally, during the winter months, it attracts migratory birds from around the world, particularly Siberia, making it a key habitat for wildlife and a destination for bird watchers. 

There have been media reports of the Manchar Lake water having converted from fresh water to toxic saline water leading to destruction of all species. The nearby agricultural lands are reportedly losing fertility while the lake water could no longer be used for drinking and domestic purposes. 

The authorities are being urged to take care of the lake whose aquifer has been polluted due to penetration of sewerage, urea and other chemicals in sub soil water which has caused health hazards for the area population.