December 6, 2005	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 3, 1426

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PESHAWAR, Dec 5: Speakers at a seminar called upon community organizations on Monday to speed up voluntary services and ensure timely development of various areas. The seminar on “Volunteerism for peace and development” was jointly organized by the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) and the Community Development Department in Karak’s town hall here in connection with the International Volunteers Day here on Monday.

The seminar was attended by religious scholars, elected representatives, members of community organisations and volunteers.

Ten volunteers were awarded shields for their exemplary services in the aftermath of the Oct 8 earthquake and 40 others were awarded certificates. Scores of volunteers were identified and registered for carrying out various voluntary services.

Till date some 60 volunteer organizations have been registered in Karak, the district officer of Community Development Department Shah Zaman told participants at the seminar.

Being a core programme of the NCHD, “volunteerism for community development” has rendered tremendous services on various occasions ranging from earthquakes to other disasters, Mr Zaman said. He promised to organise blood camps, sports tournaments, cultural shows and other events to promote volunteerism in the district.

Another speaker Maulana Makail, the district’s khatib, stressed the importance of volunteerism and said it was impossible to record any remarkable development without voluntary services.

“Our religion has laid stress upon volunteerism. It is clearly mentioned in the Holy Quran that one must serve others without any ulterior motive,” Maulana Makail said. He attributed much of the development experienced by Western countries to high ratios of volunteerism.

Appreciating the NCHD’s efforts to provide quality services in the education and health sectors, he said that the ratio of vaccination and immunization had been increased. More than 50,000 mothers have been trained on home-made oral rehydration salt (ORS), which has certainly protected the lives of hundreds of small kids, he said.

By ensuring timely human development, the National Commission for Commission for Human Development has touched every sphere of human activity, according to Prof Waqar-ul-Mulk, a volunteer.

“Volunteerism is the key to success. Being Muslims, we all must follow the golden principles of Islam and our Holy Prophet (PBUH), who repeatedly called for volunteerism,” he said.

Asghar Ali Khan, the district programme officer of the NCHD, unveiled plans to constitute a district volunteer forum to strengthen the voluntary services in Karak district and said the commission was focusing on awareness of stakeholders as well as the community.

Nasim Ejaz Khattak, the district general manager of NCHD, said the services of NCHD volunteers in Karak in the recent disaster of Mansehra were commendable. “The volunteers arranged medical camps for the injured and helped to clear the rubble,” Mr Khattak added.

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