MINGORA: After witnessing its usefulness to fulfil needs of poor people in Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi, a wall of Kindness was established in Swat to serve needy people in the district.

The wall of kindness or Dewar-i-Mehrabani has been set up in Koza Bandai village of Kabal tehsil by a social worker Dr Mohammad Hussain where needy people of the surrounding area come to take items and stuff of their needs without any hindrance.

“The main reason of establishing the wall of kindness is increasing number of needy people in this region. Such people cannot beg openly,” he said.

Social activist says increasing poverty in region has forced him to establish Dewar-i-Mehrabani

He asked the well-off people to place their surplus items of daily use at the wall so that needy people could take the same easily. “It gives true satisfaction to hearts and minds,” he added.

The area where the wall of kindness has been established remained the centre of militancy as Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah was living there.

During the three years of militancy in Swat, many families were affected. Hundreds of women were left widowed and children orphaned by militancy in the area.

“This area was badly affected by militancy from 2007 to 2009. Many families lost their men during the militancy. These families live in miserable condition and cannot beg. After the establishment of the wall of kindness members of the families will come to fulfil their needs,” said Waqar Swati, a resident of Koza Bandai.

The local people appreciated the initiative and said that establishment of wall of kindness would not only help needy and poor people but would also win hearts of humanity.

“It is really an encouraging move as poverty is on the increase in this region. Prices of daily use commodities are being increased and poor people are losing purchase power. In Europe, charity shops are set up where not only used items but also new ones are available for poor people at a low price,” said Fazal Rabi Rahi a resident of Mingora.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2016