KARACHI, Sept 5: The leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) on Tuesday paid tribute to the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) for helping those students who could not afford to acquire education due to financial constraints and urged people to assist the IJT in its efforts towards the elimination of illiteracy from the society.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the IJT's 57th Hafta-i-Kutub (books week) at S.M Science College Karachi, the MMA leaders also praised the IJT workers for donating funds from their own pockets and urged people from different walks of life to help the IJT in its welfare activities.

The IJT’s book week will continue till September 11, during which the IJT workers will collect books, stationary and raise funds for the needy and deserving students for the continuation of their studies.

Speaking on the occasion, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Karachi Amir Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui said that acquiring education had become immensely difficult nowadays as due to the self-finance schemes, increase in fee structure of public educational institutes, privatisation and growing expenses, quality education was no more in the reach of the majority of the Pakistanis.

“IJT is holding its books week for the last 56 years, which shows its commitment towards the promotion of education,” he added.

IJT Karachi Nazim Syed Abdur Rasheed said that during the books week, old and new books and stationary, educational material and funds were collected and later provided to the needy and deserving students.

He informed that during the year 2005-06, the IJT provided scholarships of Rs513,125, Rs98,551 for paying admission fee of students, provided educational loans (Qarz-i-Hasana) of Rs30,000 and an overall amount of Rs1,145,552 on educational activities.

The IJT nazim informed that the IJT established several computer and study centres, a book bank, an institute for Quranic education, organised over 100 book fairs at educational institutes, organised free coaching, crash and practical classes, lectures and seminars to help students in Karachi.

On the occasion, he urged people to help the IJT in its noble cause and donate. He also appealed the print and electronic media to cooperate with the IJT in its campaign for the collection of educational material and funds.

MMA MPAs Nasarullah Shaji, Younus Barai and others also spoke.—PPI