Syed Mussarat Khalil
JEDDAH — Jeddah-based Nazaria-i-Pakistan forum (NPF) organized a reception in honor of Shahid Rasheed, secretary general of Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust (NPT), and Abu Ahmed Akif, Haj director at Consulate General of Pakistan, at Lasani (Spinzer) restaurant Madinah Road.
Consulate officials Abdul Wahab Somroo and Nazer Gul, along with large number of families attended. The program started with recitation of few verses from Holy Qur’an by Qari Mohammed Asif.
Amir Mohammed Khan, chairman Pakistan Journalist Forum (PJF), conducted the program and gave brief introduction of the guests Shahid Rasheed and Abu Ahmed Akif.
He recalled the events of Dec. 16, 1971 and 2014 that the tragedies of Shouda-i-Mashraqi Pakistan 1971 and terrorist attack on the innocent children of Army Public School in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar in 2014.
Masood Ahmed Puri, president NPF delivered the welcome address. He praised the contributions of Rasheed and services of Akif, who is leaving for Pakistan after completing his tenure.
Rasheed, in his speech, thanked the organizers and hospitality of Puri. He said NPT is based in Lahore and it has branches in various countries and cities.
He said the trust was established in July 1992 by former Chief Minister of Punjab Late Ghulam Haider Wyne and it was consolidated by renowned journalist Majeed Nizami.
He said the trust is focusing on education and training of young people particularly the youth and fostering the ideology of Pakistan as declared by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Mohammad Iqbal.
Akif commended Pakistan Haj Volunteers Group (PHVG) who rendered help to pilgrims at the Holy sites during Haj. He said this year pilgrims from all over the world benefited from 3,000 selfless, untiring and dedicated services of Pakistani volunteers.
A token of appreciation of services was given by NPF to Shahid Rasheed, Abu Ahmed Akif, Mrs. Ruba Nasim, Mohammed Amil Usmani, Aziz Ahmed, Amir Mohammed Khan and Munir Ghondal.
