ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday, hosted an Iftar dinner at the President’s House in honour of orphans under the care of Pakistan Orphan Care Forum.

A large number of orphan boys and girls attended the event.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) celebrates Orphans Day in the Islamic world every year during the holy month of Ramazan, and the ceremony was organised to mark the occasion.

The day focuses on raising awareness about the challenges faced by orphans, strengthening social solidarity and promoting comprehensive care, education and protection of vulnerable children, especially in conflict-affected areas.

Speaking on the occasion, President Asif Ali Zardari called children the future of Pakistan. He told the orphans that the President’s House was their home, adding that the children would be provided with modern educational opportunities in colleges and universities permanently and scholarships will be allocated for them.

The president prayed for the improvement of situation in the region and peace in Pakistan and said that he would continue to serve people of the country.

Chairman of the Pakistan Orphan Care Forum retired Air Marshal Farooq Habib and other important personalities also attended the ceremony.

The chairman of the forum thanked the president for hosting and encouraging the orphan children. He said that fulfilling the dreams of orphan children and building their future was a collective responsibility.

He said the Pakistan Orphan Care Forum was taking care of more than 100,000 orphan children.

President Zardari distributed gifts, including tablets, among the orphan children.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2026