Chairman of the National Foods Limited Mian Abdul Majeed said that the
fate of the people can be changed in the country with education and proper
nutrition, especially of mothers. He
said that his group has adopted 510 schools in the remote areas to provide
education to the students who belong to the poor families and cannot afford to
get good quality of education. He was speaking at the Chief Guest at the 5th Corporate Ambassador Awards ceremony, held at the Creek
Hall of the DHA Creek Club, Karachi on July 20, 2016. Chairman of the National Foods Limited Mian Majeed said that thousands
of the children of poor families are out of schools as they cannot afford to
get education in the country. He said that to promote education in different
areas of the country, his group is running 510 schools in the afternoon (in the
govt schools) where the needy students are being given quality education free
of cost. Chairman of the National Foods Ltd maintained that Aasmoon
Lootfun Primary Girls School (ALPGS) is a collaborative effort of NFL and its
International Distributor. The school is located in Islamia Colony, Kati
Pahari, Karachi, where the majority of the population is Pakhtoon and
unfortunately the concept of female literacy is relatively distinct. Even
under such conditions, the strength of students in ALPGS is more in number than
any other schools present in that area, with a gradual increase each year, he
said, adding quality education along with different interactive extracurricular
activities and programs offered at ALPGS is the primary reason why the children
look forward to coming to school every day even in the face of growing
challenges. He said that with our prime focus on women empowerment and
education, his group has launched Aagahi Adult Literacy Program in collaboration
with The Citizens Foundation (TCF) to increase female literacy and impart basic
education to women in our community irrespective of their age, caste or
background. With over 38,000 women made literate through this program,
NFL recently celebrated almost a decade of collaboration with its partners, The
Citizens Foundation, Literate Pakistan Foundation and Shield Corporation, who
have together worked hand in hand to positively impact the lives of women
across more than 40 cities nation-wide. We aim to further expand our reach,
based on the increasing number of centers and students with each passing year.The
Government, through the apex regulator, SBP, has taken various positive
measures including PRI (Pakistan Remittance Initiative) to promote home
remittance through legal means. However, there is still much more that needs to
be done. Promoting home remittance through legal channels is a collective
responsibility of both the Government as well as the masses. Pakistan’s
influential and robust media can play a critical role in highlighting the ills
of illegal remittance channels and promoting the benefits of the formal / legal
channels, he added.Irtiza Kazmi, Head of the Global Home Remittance
of the National Bank of Pakistan said that there was a huge potential of growth
in the inflow of remittances that can be raised from US$20 billion (in 2015-16)
to above US$40 billion per annum in the coming years.In 2015-16, for the first
time the remittances have increased to US$20 billion, showing US$2 billion
growth over US$18 billion remittances received in 2014-15.He said that the
National Bank of Pakistan was adopting innovative approach and technology to
attract maximum amount of foreign exchange in the shape of remittances. Irtiza
Kazmi said that the NBP is the only bank in Pakistan that has its branch
network in rural and far-flung areas where other banks don’t have their
branches and the bank is now endeavouring to take benefit of its strength of
network by motivating overseas Pakistanis to send money to Pakistan through the
legal channel.Irtiza Kazmi, an experienced and a thoroughly competent and
professional banker, had recently been promoted to the position of Head of the
Global Home Remittance of the National Bank of Pakistan. After his appointment,
the NBP is taking solid measures to magnify inflow of remittances. The National
Bank of Pakistan is among the top-2 banks that have attracted the highest
amount of remittances in 2015-16.Pakistani diaspora have remitted around US$ 20
Billion during July2015-June 2016 back home, he said. This crucial avenue of
foreign exchange generation is now closely trailing foreign exchange proceeds
through exports, around US$ 21 Billion during the same period.However, there is
still a huge amount of money being transacted through unorganised and illegal
channels (hundi/hawala), he said, adding some estimates suggest this market
being at least equal to the formal channel.He pointed out that lack of
awareness and ill gotten wealth fuel such illegal businesses.Creating a
technologically advanced and user friendly Eco system is the need of the hour
to increase remittances.Remitters are usually enticed by the
convenience and better rates offered by Hundi/Hawala operators. Most of the
time such Remitters are totally unaware of the negative effects of such
operations.Illegal money exchange through
international jurisdictions fund illegal activities globally. This fact needs to
be disseminated forcefully and openly to the ignorant Remitters.Although the average size of remittance
in Pakistan is on the lower side, owing mainly to the bulk being sent back home
by blue collared workers having modest salaries, Pakistan is still the 8th
largest country in the world in terms of home remittances volume.To enable a sustainable growth in home
remittance, optimisation of technology platform backed by awareness creation is
the key. Famous astrologist and chairperson of the awards ceremony
Rozina Jalal, senior analyst Col. (Retd) Mukhtar Ahmed Butt, Resident Editor
Daily Pakistan, Karachi, Mubasher Mir, senior TV Anchor Ali Nasir, CEO Majmua
Art Gallery Mehrin Ilahi, Islamabad-based social worker, trainer, public
speaker Sadia Shakil and Chief Editor Corporate Ambassador Javed Mahmood
addressed the awards ceremony. Famous writer, education, author and anchor
Muttahir Ahmed Khan and renowned model Roomi Syed were the host of the programme.
the winners of 5th Corporate Ambassador Awards _ Mian Abdul Majeed, Chairman of the National Foods Ltd; Irtiza Kazmi, Head of Global Home Remittance, National Bank of Pakistan; Rozina Jalal, famous astrologist; Col. (Retd) Mukhtar Ahmed Butt, senior analyst; Mehrin Ilahi, CEO Majmua Art Gallery; Sadia Shakil Islamabad-based social worker, trainer, public speaker and psychotherapist; Almas Hamirani, fashion designer; Alveena Agha, journalist, educationist and media-entrepreneur; Roomi Syed, model/international iconic personality; Faisal Rajput, senior journalist, trainer of Chinese language; Aqsa Abdul Haq, eminent Naat Khuwaan; Noman, make-up artist; Rashid Adeel Hashmi, Dean of Fashion Department, Saint Patrick College, London and Dr Essa’s Lab & Diagnostic Center, Karachi.
