MARDAN: Owners of orphanages in the district have complained about the shortage of funds and sought the government’s patronage for ensuring excellent care of children living on their premises.

Noted among local orphanages is the Sarhadi Orphan House, which was established in 1938 by philanthropist and social worker Qazi Abdul Akbar Khan Ghazi.

Its current chief, Qazi Saqlain, told Dawn that 80 orphans lived in the building, where the management provided them with the best possible education, health and recreational facilities and activities.

“We offer both modern and religious education to children,” he said, adding that the ailing children were taken to Islamabad and Peshawar hospitals for treatment whenever doctors recommended so.

Qazi Saqlain said the orphanage’s monthly expenditure totaled Rs500,000 but since its was a private institution and had no regular financial supporters, it had to contact wealthy people and explore other ways for money to meet expenses.

“We often face serious financial problems, so we appeal to the government to come forward and provide us with a fixed annual grant for the welfare of orphans,” he said.

The chief of the orphanage said the computer education was very important during the current times and therefore, the government should provide the orphanage with computers.

He complained the orphanage struggled to accommodate newcomers and therefore, it needed land for extension of the premises.

He also urged the government to provide the orphanage with an ambulance.

Inayatur Rehman, chairman of Al-Islah Orphan Centre, said 150 orphans, including 100 boys and 50 girls, lived on his premises and that they were offered excellent medical, educational, sports and other necessary facilities.

He said the building could accommodate 300 orphans.

Mr Rehman said he wanted to establish a school on the two kanals of land adjacent to the orphanage but lacked money to put up the school building.

He appealed to the government to provide him with necessary funds for the purpose so that he could offer free education to orphans as well as other children of the area.