Chicago: Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Pir Syed Imran Ahmad Shah visited the headquarters of the Zakat Foundation of America in Chicago, accompanied by Pakistan’s Consul General in Chicago Zaman Mehdi.
On arrival, the minister was warmly received by the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer Khalil Demir, Advisor Planning and Development Farukh Raza, and members of the Foundation’s leadership team.
During the visit, CEO Khalil Demir briefed the federal minister on the Foundation’s global humanitarian initiatives. A documentary presentation highlighted the organisation’s extensive work in more than 40 countries, including orphan sponsorship, emergency disaster relief, education for out-of-school children, access to clean drinking water, skills development, rehabilitation programmes, and mental health services, among other humanitarian initiatives.
Pir Syed Imran Ahmad Shah expressed gratitude to the Zakat Foundation of America for inviting him to participate in the upcoming Turkish Cultural Festival. He appreciated the Foundation’s humanitarian contributions across the world and particularly commended its welfare and development work in Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, the federal minister outlined the achievements and ongoing initiatives of Pakistan’s Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety. He said that, under the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the ministry was implementing a range of social protection programmes aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable and underprivileged families across the country.
He said institutions working under the ministry, including the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), were playing a vital role in poverty reduction through financial assistance, vocational skills development, education, healthcare and social welfare initiatives.
The minister emphasised that the Government of Pakistan remained committed to ensuring that quality healthcare, education, livelihood opportunities and social protection services reached deserving citizens at their doorstep.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in the areas of poverty alleviation, human development and social welfare in Pakistan.
At the conclusion of the visit, Pir Syed Imran Ahmad Shah extended a formal invitation to Zakat Foundation of America CEO Khalil Demir to visit Pakistan. Prominent members of the Pakistani-American community in Chicago were also present on the occasion.
