19th Hazrat Kadija-Kubra(ra) Conference in Karachi, Pakistan
The International President took the occasion of the above-mentioned conference to pay a visit to the Federation of Pakistan. She got to know some of the projects which had been undertaken by the founder of the Federation, Dr. Salima R. Ahmed and are now continued and further developed by her successor Nasreen Mahdi. BPW Pakistan has in total 7 branches in four cities: 1 in Karachi, 1 in Slamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore. The Federation of Pakistan holds in the cities of Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar buildings which offer space for offices and meetings of the respective clubs and the Federation. In these buildings have also been created hostels for young members who come from far flung spaces to start work in the cities. The houses offer them a secure place to live with an affordable rent. The same exists for single women who retired from their job activities. Moreover, the Federation established schools in Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta to promote literacy for girls and to enhance STEM education. An adult literacy program is functional in Karachi. In 2019, a primary school was added in Gharo Village. Secondary school education started at the beginning of the academic year in 2023 in Karachi. BPW Pakistan has also initiated Industrial/Vocational Institutes in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Gharo in which women in income generating activities such as sewing, cutting, embroidering, computer literacy and beautician training get an education. The BPW International Delegation (IP Catherine, VP Toyting and RC Narudee) got a chance to visit the new institute in Karachi and the elementary school which are both located in a poor area of the town Karachi. The technical Institute will enable women to generate their own income and to give support to their families.
Another very important project is the BPW Village Housing Scheme for flood victims in two villages. In the village of Gharo were built 66 houses and in the village Bhong (Punjab) 22 which were given free of costs to widows and poor women. These projects are all very impressive. We met with the members of most of the clubs, informed them about the activities of BPW International and strengthened them in their wonderful endeavors.
