Business community should support war on blindness: Samina Fazil
Lack of blindness prevention initiatives result in economic productivity loss
Everyone has a right to sight: Murtaza Mughal


Islamabad: Dated: Feb 17
Samina Fazil, founder President, Islamabad Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) on Friday asked the business community to support those who have waged war on blindness.

Eradication of preventable blindness from Pakistan is a noble cause which merits attention of the private sector, she said.

90 per cent of the visually impaired live in developing countries out of which 80 per cent can be cured, said Samina Fazil.

Speaking at a condolence reference held on the first anniversary of Gen. Jahan Dad, founder of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, she said that 285 million people are visually impaired worldwide, 39 million are blind and 246 have low vision.

Globally 19 million children are visually impaired out of which only 1.4 million are irreversibly blind, she added.

She said that issues hampering the efforts to eradicate preventable blindness include lack of facilities, volunteers, advocacy, donations, community services and support teaching to help blind live independently.

Samina Fazil said that IWCCI has decided to support mission of Jahan Dad Khan who ensured free treatment to over half a million annually since 1985.

She asked the current chairman of the trust Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Hamid Javaid to speed-up plans for establishing more eye hospitals in remote areas.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President of the Pakistan Economy Watch said that low-income countries can make progress in avoidable blindness if developed ones support them.

He said that difficulty in accessing eye care services and lack of blindness prevention programmes is resulting in loss of productivity.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that limitations and implications of visual impairment cannot be measured; however, it diminishes the quality of life for blind and their families.

Disabled have no voice, many take them as a liability, he said adding that most of the blind schools in Pakistan are in a very poor state needing more funds, equipment, manpower and regular visits of eye doctors.

Nearly one in ten people in Pakistan are visually impaired, around one per cent are blind in both eyes of whom 70 per cent lives in villages, he informed.

Cultural issues put women on disadvantage while blindness in elderly people is generally considered a natural part of the ageing process which is debateable, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal.

Provision of proper sight restoring facilities can make majority of 2 million useful citizens who have a right to sight, he said


--
Samina Fazil,

Founder President,
Islamabad Women's Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Mobile: 0323-5343199
Land-line: 051-2252256


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PRESS RELEASE


THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE ON the World Day of Social Justice
20 February 2012


ISLAMABAD, 17 February 2012 (UN Information Centre) Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. We uphold the principles of social justice when we promote gender equality or the rights of indigenous peoples and migrants. We advance social justice when we remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability.

The General Assembly proclaimed 20 February as World Day of Social Justice in 2007 (A/RES/62/10) , inviting Member States to devote the day to promoting national activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly. Observance of World Day of Social Justice should support efforts of the international community in poverty eradication, the promotion of full employment and decent work, gender equity and access to social well-being and justice for all.


The UN Secretary-General issued the following message on this Day:


"Over the past year, the winds of change have swept across the globe.  Citizens by the millions have voiced their discontent around similar themes: inequality, corruption, repression and the absence of decent work.  At the heart of this mass mobilization lies a call for social justice. 

Achieving social justice for all is integrally linked to realizing the agreed development goals articulated at the Copenhagen Social Summit, the Millennium Summit and elsewhere.  

As we look to the upcoming Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, we have a chance to rethink development strategies and business practices so that they point us toward a more sustainable and equitable future.

Sustainability depends on building markets that do a better job of spreading the benefits of development.  It means meeting growing consumer demand for greener products and services.  And it means laying the foundations for dignity, stability and opportunity for all.  As we strive to make this transformation, we must integrate social inclusion into our policies and other efforts.

Let us work together to balance the global economy and build a new social contract for the 21st century.  Let us chart a development path that leads to greater social justice and the future we want."
***

 
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Send your best report, news, article, feature or documentary for the AGAHI Awards 2012 to: awards@agahi.org.pk

a capacity building initiative for the Press Clubs and the journalistic community in Pakistan on Investigative Journalism by
a) 250-B, North Service Road, E-11/3, Islamabad - 44000, Pakistan
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Dear Journalists,

            It is intimated with great pleasure that Ms Saba Shamim Akhter, President Women Wing and Vice President of Pakistan Taekwondo Federation has been elected as Member Executive Committee of Pakistan Olympic Association during recently held election of POA. This shows the active participation of Ms Saba Shamim Akhter in sports affairs. It is also a great honour of Pakistan Taekwondo Federation that in between all representatives of National Sports Federations, Provinces and Departments the nomination of Ms Saba Shamim Akhter has been approved. This will very beneficial for Pakistan Taekwondo Federation in future.
            Ms Saba Shamim Akhter has promised that she will try her level best to produce more results in sports affairs specially in the circle of women wing with the support of PTF as well as POA. She has also thanked to President POA Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Arif Hassan for giving this huge responsibility and having confidence on her. She also promised to work with more zeal and enthusiasm to ensure that Pakistan becomes synonymous with Taekwondo in this region under the gaudiness of POA and PTF. Picture of Ms Saba Shamim Akhter is enclosed.    
            Forwarded for necessary publication in print / electronic media, please.   


 Lt Col Waseem Ahmed

 Secretary General
 
Pakistan  Taekwondo Federation
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.
 ایسے رہا کرو کہ کریں لوگ آرزو
ایسا چلن چلو کہ زمانہ مثال دے
.! السلام علیکم۔۔۔۔۔۔
خیریت کا طالب خیریت سے ہے۔

برطانیہ سے شائع ہونے والا آپ کے اپنے اردو میگزین
 ماہنامہ "میرا میگزین" کی اشاعت کا مسلسل ساتواں سال جاری ہے۔
 یہ کامیابی آپ کی بے پناہ محبت کا ہی نتیجہ ہے۔


 ماہنامہ "میرا میگزین" کا تازہ شمارہ شائع ہو چکا ہے
 جسے آپ دنیا بھر میں کہیں بھی ویب سائٹ کے ذریعے پڑھ سکتے ہیں۔



ہمیں یقین ہے کہ آپ سب اپنی قومی زبان اردو سے محبت کرتے ہیں اور اس کی ترویج کےلئے
 میرا میگزین" کے ساتھ آپ کی محبت ہمارے لئے سرمایہ ہے۔''
 آپ کی محبتوں کا شکریہ

 

 آپ کا بھائی
 شمس الرحمان آسی

 چیف ایڈیٹر
 ماہنامہ "میرا میگزین" انٹرنیشنل

 


February 2012 , MERA MAGAZINE UK IS READY TO READ
Salaam,
Hope you will be fine. Visit Your Own website and Read New Issue of 
February 2012
Mera Magazine UK.
I am sure you will be proud to promote our own Sweet National Language URDU.
Please visit and forward it to YOURS.
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.......If you want to Publish any good thing in this Magazine Please send an E-mail to Us......
Thank You & Jazak Allah

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Chief Editor


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