Long before the novel coronavirus made its way to Pakistan, the country's national poverty ratio was projected to soar to 40% by June 2020.

That figure now seems a conservative estimate due to the strong economic, social and financial impact Covid-19 is all set to leave behind.

With that firmly established, a war needs to be waged on the storm of destitution that stares this nation in the face.

Alamgir Welfare Trust International (AWT) is one of the frontline warriors in this battle.

Founded in 1993 by Shaheed Anwer Naseem Chandna, AWT’s initial purpose was to simply collect leftover food from marriage halls and relay to the hungry.

Since then, it has made major shifts in strategies to sustain the system and, over the past 25 years, spent Rs12.5 billion of its donors’ contributions for the benefit of the underprivileged across Pakistan.

AWT's mission to help the needy is steadily picking up pace; the company's annual budget now stands at Rs1.5 billion, with an expected jump of up to Rs2 billion by next year.

In 2019, under chairman Chaudhry Nisar Ahmed’s stewardship, AWT worked in a variety of areas, a major part of which was healthcare.

The Alamgir Healthcare Centre located in Bahadurabad may appear to be a small, unassuming structure, but its facade does not do justice to the relief that the sick find within its premises.

Healthcare programme

Approximately 300,000 patients were treated at the center last year at a combined cost of Rs384 million, of which not a penny was charged to the needy.

Among free-of-cost services provided were OPD, hospitalisation, provision of medication, diagnostics, dialysis, ambulance, physiotherapy as well as the provision of prosthetic limbs.

In addition to this, the Trust, during the course of 2019, provided more than 58,000 pieces of emergency medical equipment to those who required healthcare at their homes.

Educational assistance

AWT also makes a massive contribution to Pakistan's education, where growth has been fairly stunted for a long time.

In 2019, more than 30,000 talented students benefited from the Trust’s education budget of Rs85 million, more than half of which was spent on provision of school course, while a quarter went to schools fees.

The Trust also has a school adoption policy through which the Alamgir Schooling System came into existence.

AWT’s work is not just limited to primary education; it has also established the Alamgir Institute of Engineering and Technology, where 20 different types of technical education programmes are taught.

The institute has progressed rapidly and accommodated 1,255 students just last year.

Additionally, it offers vocational courses, including sewing and tailoring programmes for women.

Rozgar scheme for women

Women empowerment is another key component of the Trust’s mission for which a sizable allocation is made every year.

Approximately Rs20 million were spent in 2019 through which skilled individuals were provided assistance as a result of thorough screening programs.

Sadqah service

The trust also has the distinction of being the first charity organisation in Pakistan to start a Sadaqah Bakra (sacrifice) service.

Through this, those who wish to perform sacrifice (sadqah) can do so at the AWT premises without a hassle. At the same time, the service allows the under privileged to take away this meat and enjoy the blessing which they would otherwise not be able to afford.

Ramazan relief package

While those in abject poverty do not have any choice but explicitly seek help, there are those who barely have enough to make ends meet but still wish to remain silent.

For such individuals and households, AWT has a ration distribution system that works discreetly and without hurting anyone’s dignity.

An extension of the same service is the Iftar facility through which more than 5,000 people are served meal boxes to break their fast with good quality, nutritious food.

An estimated Rs17m were spent on this grand annual tradition last year.

This ration distribution and meal service for the underprivileged is carried out throughout the year.

Qurbani services

Qurbani services at AWT give people the option to perform join qurbanis at both Eid ul Fitr as well as Eid ul Azha, facilitating them to fulfill an important religious duty without facing financial burdens.

The trust also provides guidance and training to Haj pilgrims, and helps them find groups to travel with.

Sadqah-e-jaria

The Alamgir Welfare Trust also helps out with community projects, especially the construction and upkeep of mosques across Pakistan.

Another crisis that the Trust has addressed recently is shortage of water. AWT, all thanks to its donors’ support, spent Rs9.1 million on water projects last year, including digging of wells and boring drills, particularly in Karachi’s suburbs and interior Sindh.

The span and scope of AWT’s activities is larger than all that is listed above. However, the gravity and complexity of the situation is such that far greater efforts need to be made to sustain the system.

For a quick look at what the Trust has been doing so far, watch this video.

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