January 18, 2006	Wednesday	Zilhaj 17, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 17: A fund called the Sindh Governor’s Endowment Fund for Legends has been set up for the welfare of renowned personalities of the province belonging to the fields of literature, sports, journalism, performing art, music, fine arts, etc.

The government of Sindh has notified the setting up of the Fund and has released a seed money of Rs50 million for it. The Fund would be maintained with the assistance of the corporate sector and philanthropists.

Governor Ishratul Ibad, who would chairman of the Endowment Fund Committee, presiding over a meeting on Tuesday at the Governor’s House, reviewed steps taken for effectively maintaining the Fund for the welfare of such personalities on a permanent basis.

The Chief Secretary, Fazalur Rehman, Secretary Culture Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, Secretary Finance Malik Israr, representatives of the corporate sector Shaukat Tareen, Farooq Rehmatullah, Sohail Wajahat, SM Munir, Sher Afzal Mazari and others attended the meeting.

Governor Ibad stressed various measures including monthly sustenance allowance on permanent basis for the needy legends, healthcare facilities and education for their children for which he emphasized an institutional set-up.

A committee comprising people from the corporate sector and others evolved a strategy for running the Fund under the guidance of the governor.

Governor Ibad at the meeting underlined the need for setting clear targets and priorities so positive change could be brought in the lives of legends.

“These legends have better served the country and the nation in their respective sectors and we owe them acknowledgement and should take care of their needs,” he observed. He praised the efforts of Shaukat Tareen and others in this respect.

The meeting was informed that according to a Sindh government notification, the Endowment Fund Committee would comprise Shaukat Tareen, Zobair Soomro, SM Muneer, Farooq Rehmatullah, Sharaf Hai, Sohail Wajahat, Kamal Afsar, principal secretary to the governor and secretaries of culture and finance.

A committee headed by Shaukat Tareen was formed to evolve criteria for selection of legends in a transparent way besides ways and means to continue the Fund on a permanent basis.

The meeting stressed bringing the legends into a net so they do not face any financial problem in the future.—PPI