Citizens provide free meals to needy people in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Citizens in the federal capital are providing food handouts to underprivileged and other needy people but are also worried about the attitude by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

Every day after evening prayers, a group of citizens can be seen providing food handouts in Sector I-8 to labourers, needy and other deserving people who turn out in large numbers.

The founders and organizers Qamar Zia Hussain, Haji Irfan and Ahmed Sadiq told MM News that they started the initiative over four years ago when just a handful of people would turn up.

Ahmed Sadiq said he started the initiative by providing Iftari meals and then they also started giving food as well throughout the year. They said they do have any NGO or social organisation neither do they want any fame but are rather doing it for sake of humanity.

Qamar Zia Hasan said he returned to Pakistan after living for more than forty years in England. He started distributing Iftari meals four years ago which made him immensely satisfied. “The spiritual satisfaction that I gain from serving humanity cannot be received from anything else,” he said.

He decided not to return to England, rediscovered his faith by understanding religion, and started serving humanity. He urged other wealthy individual and philanthropists to help deserving people by launching similar initiatives.

The organisers said they do not collect Zakat or alms but rather raise the funds among themselves and are running the Langar scheme. “These people are labourers, security guards and those who come to Islamabad to feed their families,” they said.

However, the organizers complained they face immense trouble from the CDA and local authorities ever since they started this initiative. Qamar Zia Hasan said that CDA officials have confiscated their items on several occasions while chairs and tables have been broken.

They urged local authorities to allow them just a couple of hours after Magrib prayers to run the Langar. Ahmed Sadiq said they will continue serving masses for the sake of humanity as long as they could