The World Memon Organisation (WMO), which was formed in Dubai four years ago to serve the Memon ethnic group, has embarked on a number of housing, education and health projects to the tune of $4 million to help the needy in India and Pakistan.
The projects include $1.5 million housing schemes in Pakistan, $2 million in India and $500,000 in scholarship for students in both countries This was announced by Abu Bakr Mohammad, chairman of the Constitution Committee of the World Memon Organisation.
He said the projects had been approved at a gathering of 400 members from around the world in Kenya from July 9 to 11.
Memons are a Muslim ethnic group originating from India and Pakistan. Abdul Gaffar Fancy, a Dubai-based veteran Memon community member, was selected as the chief executive of the body, to implement the objectives and the framework of the organisation.
"Our main objective is to launch educational and welfare projects for underprivileged people in addition to training programmes for women, housing projects and special programmes for poor children," he said, adding that the organisation was making giant steps for people in need around the world.
Mohammad said the organisation was one of the first organisations to have lent a helping hand to Muslims who were victims of riots in Gujarat. "The organisation in cooperation with the All Indian Memon Organisation is still providing help so they can rebuild their houses and restart their businesses," he added.
The organisation is also funding the construction of a medical institute and a hospital in Karachi in addition to a housing project in Pakistan.
Haji Abdul Razzaq, who is chairman of the Dubai-based ARY Group, is the president of the organisation. He said the organisation was formed for the uplift and advancement of the community in all aspects of life under the guidance of Islamic principles.
"We aimed to launch educational, social, welfare and rehabilitation projects particularly for the Memon community members around the world, and underprivileged Muslims in general," he added.
Razzaq said the organisation headquartered in Dubai operates around the world. "We want the world to acknowledge the Memons as a big community as there are around one million living around the world but they are scattered. The WMO helps them unite under one umbrella," he added.
He said that a charitable trust of the organisation collects funds from all prominent Memons in the world to carry out various welfare and educational projects.
Welfare plans on the anvil
* To launch educational and welfare projects for the underprivileged
* Training programmes for unemployed women
* Housing projects for the needy
* Special programmes for poor children
Gulf News
