Dubai: More than 1,200 families in need will benefit from the Ramadan food package campaign launched by the Pakistan Association in Dubai, (PAD).
“We have started distributing prepaid cards to poor families to help them buy essential food items during Ramadan. Each cards which can be used at any LuLu Hypermarket, has a credit of Dh300 and can be used for the purchase of essential commodities during Ramadan,” said Dr Faisal Ikram, general secretary of PAD.
Dr Ikram briefed the media on Monday about PAD’s various activities planned during Ramadan. He said that PAD helped around 1,000 families last year and would provide Ramadan packages to at least 1,200 needy families this year. He also urged community members to come forward and contribute to this noble case.
“This year, our Ramadan campaign is in line with the UAE’s Year of Giving initiative in coordination with the Community Development Authority,” he added.
Shahidul Islam, welfare secretary at PAD, said the Ramadan package campaign was launched a few years ago as hundreds of needy families approach the association every year for help. “We have their databank and call them to distribute packages,” he said, and thanked the community members for their generous support for running the successful campaign.
The PAD in collaboration with its Medical Wing will also hold a free health camp at Majid Al Futtaim workers accommodation on June 9. Specialist doctors will do free health check-ups of more than 1,000 workers in addition to providing them with iftar meals.
The Pakistan Youth Forum will hold ‘Shukran’ event to thank municipality workers including street cleaners. They will be honoured at the ceremony and will be given gifts to appreciate their services in the city.
The welfare team of PAD will also visit jails to help prisoners in need of help. “We pay fines of prisoners involved in small cases to secure their release and buy them tickets to help them fly back home. We also provide gifts to prisoners especially women in jails as part of our Ramadan campaign,” said Dr Ikram.
This year, PAD has also collaborated with famous Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi’s charity organisation to provide daily iftar meals at the Pakistani mosque at Pakistan Education Academy.
