Exceptional steps required to improve 4.2m orphans’ status

Islamabad
Pakistan needs to take exceptional steps to improve the status of orphans, a population of 4.2 million beset with challenges including deprivation, psychological problems, lack of proper guardianship, grooming and personality development issues, lack of educational opportunities, malnutrition, and poor health.
Views to this effect echoed at the first-ever observation of World Orphans Day in Pakistan here on Friday evening. Titled 'An Evening With Orphans,' the event was organised by Pakistan Orphan Care Forum (POCF), a platform created by around 20 national and international charitable organisations for welfare, protection and upbringing of orphans in Pakistan. POCF is observing World Orphans Day on the call of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). 15th Ramadan is celebrated as the World Orphans Day in all member countries of OIC.
Delivering the welcome note, the country director of Muslim Aid Khobaib A. Vahedy highlighted the objectives of creating POCF and the need to work for upbringing of orphans in Pakistan. He said every 30 seconds, 2 children become orphans. He highlighted that there are more than 100 million orphans worldwide and estimated 65 million in Asia. In Pakistan, according to Unicef, there are approximately 50 million children, among whom 4.2 million are orphans.
Vahedy said POCF member organisations are working on orphan care and upbringing through different programmes including cash assistance, scholarships, orphanages, schooling, provision of school uniforms and books, health and nutritional support, coaching and counseling, food assistance and Eid gifts.
The event was attended by a large number of orphan children, government officials, parliamentarians, and representatives of members organisations including Helping Hand, Islamic Relief Pakistan, Qatar Charity, Read Foundation, Ghazali Education Trust, Tameer-E-Millat Foundation, Edhi Homes, Anjuman-e-Faiz Ul Islam, Sirat-ul-Jannat Trust, Khubaib Foundation, Sweet Homes, Muslim Hands, Qidwai Welfare Trust, Al-Mustafa Development Network and Foundation of the Faithful.
Abdus Shakoor, chairman of POCF and president of Alkhidmat Foundation was the chief guest on the occasion. He said 15th Ramazan is observed as World Orphans Day in Muslims countries under the patronage of OIC. "Natural disaster, wars, and political conflicts have claimed thousands of lives in the last decade, due to which scores of children have lost their parents. According to a report by UNICEF, Pakistan is home to 4.2 million orphaned children, a large number of whom are deprived of basic health, food, and education facilities. Due to excessive financial pressures, the upbringing of orphaned children has become very challenging for their families. Consequently, these children become deprived of proper education and moral upbringing, and fall prey to wayward attitudes," he pointed out while highlighting the need to create a society in which all children are granted their basic rights without the discrimination of religion, race, and creed. "POCF believes that orphaned children are a social responsibility and we must address their issues collectively," he added.
The event was also attended by
Ch. Jaffar Iqbal, parliamentary secretary for Defense, and Mr. Ahmad, country director of Human Appeal and general secretary of POCF.