SHANGLA: A group of youth in Lilownai area of Shangla has opened two small grocery shops for the differently-abled persons to help them earn a respectful living for their families. Members of a community-based organisation collected money from the people for setting up the shops.

Local youth, mostly professionals from different government non-government sectors, have taken the initiative to support the most deserving people.

Dr Salahuddin Khan, who heads the welfare group, told Dawn that the grocery shops were opened recently. He said the occupants of the shops would generate an honourable living to support their families.

“We also distributed Eid packages to over 300 orphans in Shangla during the Eidul Fitr festival, and financially supported the widows, besides supporting the white-collar people by providing them with food packages,” Dr Salahuddin said.

Hussain Ali Heeran, who suffers from spinal cord injury, inaugurated both the shops. He lauded the initiative taken by the people of Lilownai. He said he would request the people of every union council to constitute community-level organisations and collect money to fund charitable works.

He said well-off people needed to focus on opening small businesses for the physically challenged persons and widows.

“I have been running my shop despite the fact that I am on wheelchair. I even collect charity from people through social media and support my community members in need that gives me satisfaction and peace of mind,” Mr Heeran said.

He said it was an immense honour for him to be invited for inaugurating shops for the deserving. He said he came all the way from Pir Abad, a remote high altitude village in Alpuri.

Ghulam Nabi, another member of the welfare body, said the most interesting and useful thing in this initiative was the local community’s positive response to it.

He said local people overwhelmingly approached them and offered their financial support for the cause.

Sher Ali, another member of the community-based body, said people wholeheartedly registered themselves with it and sent their contribution every month, while some of members collected the contributions from their colleagues in different government departments.

He said they would open shops for widows as well.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2024