Kasuris pledge Rs60m to tackle pandemic

Islamabad: The Kasuri family and the Mahmud Ali Kasuri (MAK) Welfare Trust have pledged a combined Rs60 million contribution towards the COVID-19 emergency in Pakistan.

Of the total donation, Rs40 million will be utilized to procure and distribute essential food items as ‘ration packs’ to deserving individuals—mainly daily-wage workers—while the remaining Rs. 20 million will be contributed to the Prime Minister’s COVID-19 Relief Fund. The ration packs include necessary food supplies to help sustain a family of 5 for approximately a month. The activity will be carried out in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Kasur from today (Monday).

The Chairman of MAK Welfare Trust Mian Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and Co-Chair Nassir Kasuri said, “Since 1994, the Trust has been discreetly engaged in various welfare and education projects for the underserved without seeking publicity. We are now launching the campaign ‘Har Qadam Pakistan Kay Saath’ to support daily-wage workers during these testing times. We also hope that our contribution to the PM’s Fund will make a small difference to the government’s effort towards combatting this pandemic.”

The Mahmud Ali Kasuri Welfare Trust has partnered with Akhuwat organization and will be using their extensive grassroots level networks in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to ensure that ration is distributed to only the most deserving families, whereas the MAK Trust will independently manage screening and distribution in Kasur. Prior to distribution, supplies will be stored at designated campuses of Beaconhouse and Concordia Colleges.

Speaking about the initiative, the patron of MAK Welfare Trust and Founder of Beaconhouse Nasreen Kasuri said, “This is a time when we all need to come together and support the government’s efforts. While the initial drive is privately funded, many of our employees and students have also expressed a desire to play a role but cannot manage the procurement and distribution of ration on their own. In the next stage, therefore, we hope to create a pathway for the Beaconhouse community and others to contribute to this initiative on a voluntary basis. This will enable the Trust to extend its reach beyond our initial pledge.”

The MAK Welfare Trust has meaningfully contributed during national crises including the 2005 earthquake, the IDP crisis of 2009, and the massive flooding of 2010 and 2014. Most recently, the Trust contributed Rs. 22 million for the construction of student toilets and classrooms in 48 government primary schools in district Gujranwala.