LAHORE: Speakers at a seminar on Tuesday urged people to support the needy and deserving people and give charity carefully and with full responsibility.
“We must remember that our donations and contributions must not be used against our people and our country,” they said during a seminar on Safe Charity, organised by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in collaboration with the Metropolitan City Lahore at the chamber’s Amin Hall.
Addressing the seminar, Lahore’s Lord Mayor Mubashir Javed said the government would continue its efforts to facilitate the people. “We will try this time too to closely check all the organisations which are collecting animal hides and others charity funds especially before, during and after the Eidul Azha festival,” he said.
In his speech, he praised the role of the business community in welfare and said that he could expect more support in public welfare from the business community. He said that the people should aware of different organisations working around them and collecting sacrificial animal hides and donations.
“We should avoid such organisations and people who are proscribed by the government. Even if the banned organisations or people are working with different or new names, we should not provide support to them directly or indirectly though our charity fund,” he said. He asked the people to inform the government about the activities of such the organisations or people.
Prominent religious scholar Mufti Raghab Naeemi, who heads Jamia Naeemia, told the gathering that it was the responsibility of the people to not support the banned organisations and the anti-state elements through their charitable contributions. “We have to play our active role in the protection of our society,” he said.
In his address, he shared references from the religious text and said that no one should support bad activities. He asked the government to display a list of banned outfits and the organisations which can collect animal hides and charity funds before Eidul Azha so that there should not be any hurdle for anyone.
Sharing his views, LCCI President Abdul Basit said that everyone must check those organisations which were collecting animals’ hides and charity funds. “A lot of companies are working in philanthropic work and contributing to social welfare activities,” he said. “We must play the role of a responsible citizen and must contribute the maximum share in nation-building,” he said.
He suggested to give charity to people-friendly organisations so that the financial contribution should not be used against Pakistan. Besides print and electronic media, he said there was need to start a social media campaign to educate people about anti-state organisations. “We must remember that we have to support our people and our country, but carefully,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Centre of Peace and Secular Studies (CPSS) Executive Director Saeeda Diep said that everyone keeps in mind that they must use their charity sensibly. “Our donations shouldn’t be used against our people and our country,” she said. “We must stand firmly in rejection of the voices that seek to divide our nation or limit religious freedoms or civil rights,” she said. Besides LCCI office-bearers and members, businessmen, representatives of government and private institutions also participated in the seminar.
Published in Daily Times, August 2nd , 2017.
