KARACHI, Jan 4: The committee entrusted with the task of raising funds for the “Governor’s Endowment Fund for the Legends” has decided to make the endowment body operational this month with the release of funds to the first beneficiaries – the families of Jamshed Ansari and Lehri.

The decision was taken at the first meeting of the fund’s trustees.

The Trust had formally been set up by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad on December 19 with a seed money of Rs50 million. Known banker Shaukat Tareen was appointed managing trustee of the 11-member body headed by the governor as its patron.

At the meeting, Chief Secretary Fazalur Rehman directed finance secretary to institutionalise allocation of funds for the Trust in the annual budget. It also constituted a committee, headed by Mrs Marriana Karim, which has reportedly been given the target of raising funds up to Rs1.5 billion over the next three months. The fund would be operational until the establishment of a proper foundation.

Other members of the committee are Trustee S. M. Muneer, Farooq Rehmatullah, Sohail Wajahat H. Siddiqui, Muneer Kamal, Liaquat Merchant and Salman Burney, besides chief secretary and secretaries finance and cultural (ex-officio trustee).

The meeting decided to set four categories to be incorporated for disbursement of funds to the legend. The four categories are: 1: Artist (creative and performing arts), 2: Sportsperson, Poet, 3: Journalist and Writer 4: Intellectuals (scholars/philosophers).

The terms of reference of the committee are to define criteria to identify and categorise beneficiary to make the system transparent; to consider provision for their allowances and the healthcare and education allowance for their children; to help manage the Governor’s Endowment Fund for Legends; and to create a foundation for operating the GEFL efficiently.

RELIEF FOR FAMILY: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad called on relatives of the Father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah on Eid Day at their residence on Jehangir Road.