Introduction
I- Services rendered by the KKF

1- MONTHLY DISBURSEMENT OF FINANCIAL AID TO THE POOR AND NEEDY
2- PROVISION OF DOWRIES TO DESTITUTE AND ORPHAN GIRLS FOR THEIR MARRIAGES
3- ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION OF AID AMONGST THE DESERVING DURING THE MONTH OF RAMAZAN
4- FREE MEDICAL TREATMENT AND PROVISION OF MEDICINES TO THE POOR
5- AMBULANCE AND COFFIN CARRIER SERVICE
6- SERVICE TO THE POOR THROUGH MOBILE DISPENSARIES AND FIELD HOSPITALS
7- ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDICAL AID CAMPS IN THE MONTH OF MOHARRAM.
8- FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE
9- FRUITS AND VEGETABLE STALLS

1- AID TO VICTIMS OF THE SADDAR BOMB BLASTS
2- HISTORICAL 'MUFT BAZAR' (FREE BAZAR)
3- RELIEF TO THE VICTIMS OF VARIOUS INCIDENTS IN KARACHI
4- HELP TO AFFECTED OF THE HYDERABAD FIRING TRAGEDY
5- RELIEF FOR THE GHOTKI RAILWAY STA1TION VICTIMS
6- HELP TO THE FLOOD AFFECTED AT MIRPURKHAS
7- REHABILITATION OF THE UPROOTED FAMILIES
8- THE PHULELI CANAL TRAGEDY AND THE KKF's IMMEDIATE HELP

1- ESTABLISHMENT OF 260 BED MODERN HOSPITAL
2- ESTABLISHMENT OF DISPENSARIES
3- ESTABLISHMENT OF BLOOD BANK
4- ESTABLISHMENT OF DRUG BANK
5- ESTABLISHMENT OF AMBULANCE AND COFFIN CARRIES SERVICE CENTRES ALL OVER THE CITY
6- ESTABLISHMENT OF INDUSTRIAL HOMES
7- INAUGURATION OF KKF BLOOD BANK AND PATHOLOGICAL LABORATORY IN KARACHI
8- RE-OPENING OF KKF AMBULANCE AND COFFIN CARRIER SERVICE CENTRE IN HYDERABAD
9- FLOOD RELIEF OPERATION IN BALOCHISTAN

INTRODUCTION

The Holy Prophet PBUH said, "the greatest prayer of all is to serve humanity". From this hadith we come to realise that aiding poverty stricken and needy people is in itself a prayer.  As it is, well to do should assist the needy in their individual capacity.  However, political and religious parties and social organisations ought to perform their due share in this service to humanity.  Any political movement, which renders service to humanity, is no less than a prayer itself.  Unfortunately, in our country, political and religious organisations have divested themselves of this responsibility, assuming it to be the prerogative of social organisations.  Political and religious organisations have constantly claimed that when they come to power they will take necessary steps to eradicate the ills of poverty, destitution, hunger and illiteracy.  They believe that service to humanity cannot be accomplished without controlling the reigns of power.  The MQM (Muttahida Quami Movement), however, in Pakistan is the only organisation, which has proved that even without being in power it has nevertheless managed to achieve and set considerable examples of service to humanity.  This is only possible when one is honest and sincere and works with a commitment to the cause.  MQM's example of such commitment is a torchbearer for others to follow.

MQM's ideological and philosophical approach encompasses the concept of service to humanity without any prejudice or discrimination.  The Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation (KKF) comes under the jurisdiction of the MQM.  It is a highly organised, active and effective social organisation.  Its services are spread over a very wide spectrum which does not only include Karachi, Hyderabad and other urban areas of Sindh, but today, the KKF is known throughout the country for its social services.  The Founder and Leader of the MQM, Mr. Altaf Hussain and his colleagues have served the destitute and the needy long before the MQM came into existence.  The All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO) gave birth to the Mohajir Quami Movement (MQM) on 18th March 1984, whereas the APMSO itself was formed on 1lth June 1978. Through their intense commitment to serve the poor students and destitute people, Mr Altaf Hussain and his colleagues formed the KKC (Khidmat-e-Khalq Committee) in 1978. (The KKC was transformed into KKF, i.e.- Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation in January 1998)  Mr. Altaf Hussain and his associates contributed all their pocket money and whatever remuneration they received by giving tuition, to the KKC fund.  From this money and the donations received from students, other less fortunate students were helped.  Course books and cash for admission and examination fees were distributed.

In 1979 and 1982 when exodus of stranded Pakistanis from Bangladesh began in Karachi, it was the MQM's KKF, which distributed food and clothing amongst those dispossessed families.  Through the mobile KKF camps in Majid Colony, Landhi, these families received 320 kg of rice, 80 kg of wheat flour, 80 kg of lentils, a hundred boxes of tea, two thousand pieces of stitched clothing, 40 dozen cakes of soap, medicines and a variety of other household utensils.  On their arrival in their homeland, the stranded Pakistanis were provided meals twice, as no such arrangements were made by any other organisation or the then Government.  Under the supervision of KKF, a similar aid camp was established at West Wharf, Karachi, where the arrangements for medical facilities were organised and goods worth Rs. 17,440 were distributed.

In the early 1980's the KKF actively participated in providing aid in various localities, along with educational institutions.  In the city's numerous localities various, programmes were organised, at different times, where sewing machines for poor widows, mattresses, quilts, clothing and cash amount were distributed and poor students received course books and cash amount to pay their fees.

In 1984, Mr Altaf Hussain formed the MQM.  As the MQM gained popularity with the public, the activities of KKF kept on increasing and soon it became the centre of hope for the destitute and needy.  Among the patrons of the MQM, no one including Mr. Altaf Hussain belonged to either the feudal or industrialist class.  Each of them represents the lower and middle educated class of the society.  The paucity of funds, however, did not dampen the zeal of the MQM leadership and its members.  To create a spirit of service amongst the people, they campaigned in various ways to generate funds.  By receiving donations they put into motion the process of helping the poor and destitute, which is being continued in a most organised and effective manner.

I- SERVICES RENDERED BY THE KHIDMAT-E-KHALQ FOUNDATION

The way the MQM's Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation has aided the poor, the deprived and the deserving; irrespective of their colour, cast, creed and religion, that symbolises KKF as their only friend and hope.

That is also the main reason why the residence of the Founder and Leader of the MQM, Mr. Altaf Hussain at Azizabad and the Office of the KKF at Block 14, Federal B. Area, Karachi are always thronged by the needy 24 hours a day.  The residence of Mr. Altaf Hussain has a reception area where the problems of the needy are seriously listened.  At the Office of KKF, its staff processes the applications of the poor and deserving and necessary assistance is immediately provided.  The manner in which the KKF helps the people without discrimination is mentioned below: -

1- MONTHLY DISBURSEMENT OF FINANCIAL AID TO THE POOR AND NEEDY
KKF provides financial support on monthly basis to all those students and widows who have no means of financial support.  All such deserving widows and students are issued special cards. These poor widows and students by showing their card at the KKF Central Office receive the money apportioned for them every month.  The widows are given aid on the basis of the number of household members in their homes.  This way Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation is supporting thousands of people.  Not only Mohajir families are being aided by the KKF but the list also includes Sindhis, Baloch, Punjabis, Saraikis and Pakhtoons, in fact, people of all the nationalities of the country.  Poor students, besides being helped monetarily, are provided their course books, uniforms and fees.  In 1996-97, the KKF distributed Rs. 0.5 million amongst the poor students, the widows and other deserving persons.

2- PROVISION OF DOWRIES TO DESTITUTE AND ORPHAN GIRLS FOR THEIR MARRIAGES
The marriage of girls whose parents are from low-income group is a major social and financial problem.  In many cases such girls have to face this problem themselves.  The KKF provides financial help to such parents for the arrangement of marriages of their daughters.  According to KKF's accounts, during 1996-97 an amount of Rs. 0.32 million were spent on the marriages of orphans and destitute girls.

3- ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION OF AID AMONGST THE DESERVING DURING THE MONTH OF RAMAZAN
KKF besides providing monthly help to poor students and deserving widows and other occasional aid, also arranges the distribution of sewing machines, installation of vegetable and fruit stalls for jobless youths, wheel chairs for the handicapped, tape recorders for the blind and distribution of cash amongst thousands of poor and needy, the dependants of shaheeds (the martyrs), disabled students and widows, during the month of Ramzan. For this annual programme, applications are usually received from the first till the 15th or 20th of Ramazan.  Each application is processed and investigated and each applicant is allotted aid according to his or her need.

This annual aid programme is generally held in the last week of Ramazan.  Aid is distributed irrespective of the colour, cast, creed, language or religion, to the poor and needy. And special care is taken to ensure that the aid is given only to the deserving.  Around five thousand persons receive aid through this programme every year.  We try to ensure that poor and needy families are also able to celebrate Eid.  These annual aid programmes are not only organised in Karachi, Hyderabad and the other cities of Sindh but also in Punjab, the NWFP and Balochistan. Thus the aid programmes of KKF have now been spreading throughout the country. Besides this annual aid programme and monthly distribution of aid, the MQM's Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation provides help in a variety of ways throughout the year to deserving people.

4- FREE MEDICAL TREATMENT AND PROVISION OF MEDICINES TO THE POOR
The MQM's Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation provides free medical care to the poor and needy besides providing free medicines to them.  For these medical facilities the MQM has established a separate department known as the  "Medical Aid Committee".  It provides medical care and treatment and other facilities to the poor.  The MQM's Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation has also created an "Emergency Centre", spreading in an area of three acres in Federal 'B' Area Block 14, District Central, where experienced staff remains on active duty to serve 24 hours a day. In this building, there are different departments to handle the medical needs of the people. At present, there is a dispensary operating in the Emergency centre, which provides free medical care and medicines to the deserving.  Besides these services, every year on the 'Polio Day', the KKF provide vaccination for prevention from Polio to the children and for this purpose, special arrangements are made at the medical dispensary.

5- AMBULANCE AND COFFIN CARRIER SERVICE
KKF's largest Ambulance and Coffin Carrier Service Centre (ACCSC) is situated at the KKF Emergency Centre in Federal 'B' Area where four coffin carrier buses and 19 ambulances are equipped with oxygen facilities and all other medical emergency equipment.  The Emergency Centre staff comprises of 70 people.  The KKF ambulances arrive promptly on intimation of a traffic accident or emergency; regardless of where it occurred.  Ambulances proceed to the nearest hospital promptly with the casualties in order to save precious lives.  In view of the increasing accidents in Karachi, the KKF has established another ambulance centre at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital with a fleet of four ambulances, available round the clock.

The network of the KKF ambulance service is expending throughout the country.  Any casualty or a patient from a poor family is provided free ambulance service.

KKF is also serving the people without any reward, through its Coffin Carrier Service.  It initially began the coffin carrier service with two buses.  Now the fleet has grown to four.  The KKF charges nominal rate from those who can afford, for its service, so that the free of charge facility for the poor and destitute could be maintained.  Along with the coffin carrier service other facilities of bathing and providing the coffin for the dead is available free of cost at the Emergency Centre for the poor and destitute.

6- SERVICE TO THE POOR THROUGH MOBILE DISPENSARIES AND FIELD HOSPITALS
By providing free of cost medical care to the poor through its mobile dispensaries and field hospitals, the KKF has added another achievement to its credit in its service to humanity.  Up till now, the KKF has served the poor through a number of its field hospitals and mobile dispensaries set up from time to time.  In different areas of the city, where the patients are not only examined and given free medicines worth thousands of rupees, they are also operated upon if needed in emergency.  These mobile dispensaries are not only organised in Karachi, Hyderabad or other areas of Sindh; but also in Punjab, Balochistan and the NWFP, where free medical treatment and medicines are provided to those poor who otherwise have to suffer because of non availability of ordinary medicines in the government hospitals.

7- ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDICAL AID CAMPS IN THE MONTH OF MOHARRAM.
Every year the KKF sets up medical aid camps in various localities of each city on the occasion of the 10th of Moharram.  In these camps, doctors and paramedical staff of the MQM's Medical Aid Committee, provide medical aid to persons who had accidents or injuries during the processions.  These camps have all the life saving drugs and medical aid facilities.  In case of an emergency, ambulances are always readily available at these medical aid camps.

8- FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE
To provide legal assistance to those victims of State repression, who cannot afford it, the KKF, with the help of MQM, has set up a full-fledged section known as the "Legal Aid Committee".  Expert lawyers of this committee sit daily in the central office situated near City Court, at Hoor Centre, Karachi and provide legal advice free of cost to the needy.  In fact, working with a humanitarian zeal these expert lawyers also act as counsels in the courts.

9- FRUITS AND VEGETABLE STALLS
Under the supervision of the KKF in various localities of the city, fruit and vegetable stalls are set up during Ramzan where Items are sold at cheaper rates.  During Ramazan, there is a tendency for increase in the prices of edible items.  Contrary to this, the KKF sells fruits and vegetables at more economic rates.  This makes it possible even for the poor to enjoy their Iftar, a service that has tremendous rewards.

II- HISTORICAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE KHIDMAT-E-KHALQ FOUNDATION

At various times in its service to humanity, the KKF has accomplished unprecedented historical achievements. It is important to mention some of them here:

1- AID TO VICTIMS OF THE SADDAR BOMB BLASTS
In Karachi, during the year of 1987, there were tragic bomb blasts in the Saddar area, which caused several casualties including and many deaths.  At the time of this tragedy, the KKF installed its medical aid camps outside Jinnah Hospital from where medicines, blood and all other necessary items were made available for the injured without any discrimination.  The relatives of the deceased were informed through telephone and telegram.  Many injured victims were escorted to their home after necessary medical aid.  Through its actions the MQM has proved that it believes in providing aid and assistance without discrimination.

2- HISTORICAL 'MUFT BAZAR' (FREE BAZAR)
The holding of the unique and historical 'Muft Bazar' by the MQM's Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation is a phenomenon, which has no parallel in the world, let alone Pakistan.  This unique "Muft Bazar" took place on the 9th and 10th June 1989, at T-Ground, Federal B. Area, Karachi.  Through this Muft Bazar, more than a hundred thousand poor and needy men and women were given goods worth more than two crore (twenty million) rupees.  The goods included stitched clothing, complete dowries for girls, groceries and items for every day use.

Through this 'Muft Bazar', similar to shops in markets, more than 100 stalls of each item were put up in the T-Ground.  For distribution of aid a procedure was adopted not only to help the destitute; but also at the same time extreme caution was made not to hurt their self-respect and pride.  Through this particular process, the poor and needy proceeded to the stalls and acquired goods of their choice.  During this 'Muft Bazar' the MQM's Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation members, regardless of their hunger, thirst and discomfort, worked tirelessly for two days to distribute aid among the poor and deprived.  In the KKF's 'Muft Bazar' not only Mohajirs but also Sindhis, Baloch, Punjabis, Pakhtoons, Saraikis, Kashmiris and people from various nationalities were provided aid.  Poor and needy widows, disabled, destitute and orphans were amongst them.  The elderly men and women were guided and aided by the MQM members of National Assembly, Provincial Assembly, Councillors, MQM office bearers and members.  The Founder and Leader of the MQM, Mr. Altaf Hussain and members of the central committee supervised the aid distribution.  Journalists, political, religious and social leaders who witnessed the 'Muft Bazar' unanimously agreed on its being a historical event and a unique phenomenon in Pakistan.

3- RELIEF TO THE VICTIMS OF VARIOUS INCIDENTS IN KARACHI
There was a series of massacres and armed attacks on Mohajir localities in Karachi between December 1986 and August 1987 including those in Aligarh Colony, Qasba Colony, Orangi Town, Jalalabad, Nazimabad, Khawaja Ajmer Nagari, New Karachi and Shah Faisal Colony.  Terrorist gangs armed with the latest automatic firearms subjected these places to large-scale murders and arson.  This orgy of blood and fire continued unabated and unchecked for hours at times.  Innocent blood was shed and hundreds of houses were burnt.  According to a conservative estimate, about 300 persons were killed and many injured.  It is a known fact that it was only the KKF of the MQM that came to the aid of the wounded whom it took to different hospitals for first aid and necessary medical treatment. The Committee also did everything possible to help and rehabilitate those affected by these acts of terrorism.

4- HELP TO AFFECTED OF THE HYDERABAD FIRING TRAGEDY
On September 30, 1988, armed terrorists opened indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons on peaceful citizens in different parts of Hyderabad.  This firing carried on for over half an hour, resulting in the death of more than 200 innocent persons.  Hundreds more were wounded severely.  KKF came to the rescue of the wounded, shifted them to hospitals, arranged large quantities of blood plasma for those who needed it, procured life-saving drugs and played an active role in other related activities.

In July1990, Hyderabad was again a scene of carnage when several bomb blasts occurred at different places.  These blasts took several lives besides wounding a large number of people. In keeping with its tradition, the KKF rushed with its ambulances to the aid of the wounded.  It took them to hospitals and to the several field camps, which were set up for medical aid and assistance to the affected.  It also distributed medicines and other articles worth thousands of rupees amongst the helpless and the deserving.

On July 26 & 27, 1990, one of the worst incident of indiscriminate firing by the State machinery against the innocent residents of Pacca Qila in Hyderabad, was witnessed.  This calculated and unprovoked firing resulted in the death of hundreds of young men not to mention dozens of women and innocent children.  The number of the wounded can only be imagined from that of the dead.  As usual, the KKF rushed to help the victims with blood plasma, medicines, food and temporary shelter.  Besides this, the KKF also distributed a sum of Rs. 1.5 million amongst the people affected by the Pucca Qila incident.

5- RELIEF FOR THE GHOTKI RAILWAY STA1TION VICTIMS
In 1991, on the tragic train accident at Ghotki Railway Station, in interior Sindh, the KKF performed distinctive relief activities to the victims. When the news of this tragedy at Ghotki Railway Station was given to the Founder Leader of the MQM, Mr. Altaf Hussain, he immediately gave instructions to provide urgent relief and help to those affected by the tragedy.  Within hours, a team of the KKF was the first to reach the spot with its medical aid, paramedical staff, ambulances, life saving drugs, supply of blood plasma and other necessary paraphernalia.  It established its emergency aid centre outside the local hospital.  Ghotki, a small town in the interior of Sindh, lacks even the basic medical facilities.  At Ghotki there was scarcity of doctors and medicines.  The doctors and the staff of the KKF, therefore, had to have a very busy time working round the clock and under severe conditions.

It undertook the formidable task of informing the next-of-kin of the victims of the accident all over the country, and also arranged for the reception and temporary boarding and lodging of their relations arriving in large numbers from all over Pakistan.  To make it easier for these visitors to identify their kin, the committee displayed photographs, where available, of the dead and the wounded.  Those who were severely wounded and could not be taken care of within the resources locally available were shifted to Karachi in the KKF ambulances.  The Committee within three days spent almost Rs. 0.3 million in looking after those affected by the Ghotki tragedy.  Earlier, the KKF had also provided similar services without any discrimination, to the victims of the railway accident at Sangi.

6- HELP TO THE FLOOD AFFECTED AT MIRPURKHAS
The unprecedented floods in Mirpurkhas in 1989 swept away several villages.  Many people were drowned, many more injured and scores of families were rendered homeless.  The KKF raced to their rescue and also to those uprooted or separated from their families.  The Committee set up camps for the homeless, distributed medicines and food amongst them until they found themselves rehabilitated elsewhere.  Most of the families affected by the floods were Sindhis.  KKF proved practically that it believes in serving all without any discrimination.

7- REHABILITATION OF THE UPROOTED FAMILIES
Owing to ethnic violence in Sindh in 1989, thousands of families migrated to Karachi or Hyderabad from the interior of Sindh.  The rehabilitation of these families, who had left their hearth and homes behind, was a challenging task.  The KKF took up the challenge.  It found them temporary accommodation in schools and other places, offered them three meals a day, looked after their medical needs through medical aid centres and provided them with the necessities of life.  Besides, the committee spent about Rs. 1 million on the uprooted families in 1991.

8- THE PHULELI CANAL TRAGEDY AND THE KKF's IMMEDIATE HELP
On 16 March 1992, 30 precious lives were lost and many persons were injured when an overcrowded passenger bus on its way from Tando Ghulam Ali to Hyderabad fell into the Phuleli Canal.  MQM office bearers and volunteers of the KKF rushed to the spot with their ambulances.  They retrieved the ill-fated bus and the unlucky victims from the canal. Humanitarian activity lasted the whole night and the best part of the following day.  People belonging to all walks of life appreciated the services rendered by the KKF on the occasion.

A few days before the Phuleli Tragedy, dacoits had launched a rocket attack on a Rawalpindi bound train from Karachi.  KKF immediately provided medical help to the victims at Nawabshah Railway Junction.  For this it set up emergency camps at Nawabshah where the doctors of the Medical Aid Committee gave first aid and other treatment to the injured.  KKF volunteers also contacted the relatives of the injured throughout the country.  KKF has proved its competency to rush to the aid of those affected by any tragedy anywhere.

III- FUTURE WELFARE PROGRAMMES OF THE KHIDMAT-E-KHALQ FOUNDATION

KKF intends to broaden the sphere of its welfare services in the future and has accordingly formulated several new schemes for providing better and effective welfare services to the poor and needy people.

1- ESTABLISHMENT OF 260 BED MODERN HOSPITAL
A 260 bed modern hospital tops the list of the future welfare schemes of the KKF. This modern hospital will be established over an area of 3 acres in Block 14, of the Federal B'Area.  This hospital will comprise full range of medical departments and provide treatment to all kinds of patients.  In this hospital of KKF, free treatment will be extended to all poor and deserving people and, in addition they would also be provided with free medicines.

2- ESTABLISHMENT OF DISPENSARIES
At present there is a dispensary working at the KKF Centre; but the KKF wants to establish dispensaries all over the city on a large scale. In these dispensaries the poor, helpless and deserving patients will be provided with free of cost treatment and medicines.  With the establishment of these dispensaries, people, especially those living in the underdeveloped areas, will have access to better medical treatment and facilities in the vicinity of their homes.  In the next phase KKF plans to establish these free dispensaries in different cities of Sindh province and also in the province of Punjab, the NWFP and Balochistan.

3- ESTABLISHMENT OF BLOOD BANK
Blood is a necessary element of life and at the time of any accident it is needed to save the lives of the victims.  MQM felt this need and planned to establish a blood bank in the city.  The construction of the building of Blood Bank was completed in 1991.  All the departments were made but due to the shortage of funds, necessary machinery for the Blood Bank could not be acquired, therefore, this project could not be started.  Afterwards, due the commencement of the Operation Clean-up, all the plans to open the Blood Bank were delayed.  Now owing to the efforts of the MQM and the support of generous people this Blood Bank is now operative but still more funds are needed to run this Blood Bank on a wider scale.

4- ESTABLISHMENT OF DRUG BANK
In order to provide free medicine to the poor and destitute, the KKF wants to establish a drug bank.  Currently, there is a small drug bank operative in the dispensary of the KKF but it wants to establish a big drug bank so that the poor and needy could be provided easy access to every medicine, including life saving drugs.

5- ESTABLISHMENT OF AMBULANCE AND COFFIN CARRIES SERVICE CENTRES ALL OVER THE CITY
KKF will set up ambulance and Coffin Carrier Service centres in the far-flung areas of Karachi along with other urban areas to provide ready and quick services to the people.  According to this plan in 1991, the KKF started an Ambulance Centre in Landhi but it remained operative for a small period when in 1992 an Operation Clean-up was launched against the MQM and the Haqiqi terrorists captured all the ambulances present there and closed this ambulance centre.  Despite this incident, KKF is still struggling to establish ambulance and coffin carrier service centres in Karachi and other parts of the country.

6- ESTABLISHMENT OF INDUSTRIAL HOMES
KKF in addition to providing help to the people, specially the poor and needy ones, through its various welfare schemes and assistance programmes as well as extending medical and other facilities, is also keen to promoting general progress and prosperity in the society.  To attain this goal, the KKF has formulated a scheme for setting up Industrial Home centres in different parts of the city.  In these centres, women specially the needy and deserving ones, will be trained in different skills and trades to make them economically independent and bread earners of their family.

7- INAUGURATION OF KKF BLOOD BANK AND PATHOLOGICAL LABORATORY IN KARACHI

In its firm believe to serve the people the KKF founded a blood bank and pathological laboratory at its central office at Federal B Area, Karachi. The Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, inaugurated this blood bank and pathological laboratory on 23 January 1998. This has happened for the first time in the history of Pakistan that a charitable wing of any political party of country has exhibited the human services at such a high level of commitment to people. Most importantly, all this has been achieved despite constraints and a manifest State repression against the party.

8- RE-OPENING OF KKF AMBULANCE AND COFFIN CARRIER SERVICE CENTRE IN HYDERABAD

On 27 March 1998, the MQM re-opened its centre of ambulance service and hearse service at the Mir Gardens at Hyderabad. This centre was forcibly closed during the Army Operation, which commenced on 19 June 1992. The KKF has also laid the foundation of a 200 beds hospital at the Mir Gardens Centre for the poor and needy people of the Hyderabad city.

9- FLOOD RELIEF OPERATION IN BALOCHISTAN

The KKF since its foundation has served the victims of natural disasters wherever it had occurred in the country. Recently, on 4 March 1998, in a flood relief operation in Balochistan, the KKF has provided the affected people with all the care and need from medical to monetary assistance.

The righteous people belonging to this caravan have a firm belief that through the service of the poor, helpless, oppressed and deprived; and their unflinching stand of this just cause, they would one day definitely reach their destination.

IV- KKF's SOURCE OF INCOME

KKF is a subsidiary organisation of the MQM, which has no waderas, feudal lords, or capitalists at its back.  In fact, from an ordinary worker to office bearers of MQM, including councillors, members of the national and provincial assemblies, senators, central co-ordination committee members and even Quaid-e-Tehrik Altaf Hussain himself belong to the poor and middle class sections of society.

All departments of the MQM are run on contributions received from the people and likewise KKF also meets all its expenses from donations received from people. The KKF obtains donations from the people in the month of Ramazan in the shape of Zakat, Fitra and Sadqa; while it collects hides and skins of sacrificial animals on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, the KKF distributes the funds so collected amongst the poor and needy people every year in a public gathering.  Besides, the cost of medical treatment and medicines, ambulance and coffin carrier service, help centres and all other welfare activities of the KKF are also financed from the contributions made by the people.  KKF's Central Office at Block-14, Federal B. Area, maintains an up to date record of donations received from the public as well as the details of the expenditures on various items.  KKF annually issues the statement of its income and expenditure for the public information.  Besides, the entire income and expenditure accounts are regularly audited.  The MQM has extended general invitation to people to visit the Central Office of KKF and check for themselves the accounts of KKF.

KKF's future welfare plans, which have been described above, cannot be accomplished with the limited contributions received from the poor and middle class people.  For this noble cause, it is necessary that all generous people and philanthropists should come forward and co-operate whole-heartedly with the KKF in its welfare activities in providing services to the deprived people without any discrimination.

V- RECOGNITION OF THE WELFARE ACTIVITIES OF THE KKF

For nearly two decades, the way KKF is serving the poor and needy has been known not only by the public but leaders of different political and religious parties as well.  Different governments have witnessed the 'Muft Bazaar' and annual aid distribution of millions of rupees to thousands of poor and needy in Ramzan. Several political leaders have visited the KKF Centre and have seen the welfare activities with their own eyes.  In 1991, the late Chief Minister of Sindh, Jam Sadiq Ali visited the KKF Centres and saw all the departments and witnessed the aid programmes.  His sentiments towards the KKF are on record.  Similarly, in September 1997, Sheikh Nasir Lotha of United Arab Emirates and the Consulate General of UAE Sheikh Zahi Lotha visited the KKF Centre and saw the ambulance service, coffin carrier service, dispensary and other departments of KKF.  They were also shown the aid programmes of the KKF. Sheikh Nasir Lotha accepted that MQM's Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation is really providing service to the poor and needy persons without any discrimination.

VI- WELFARE ACTIVITIES OF KHIDMAT-E-KHALQ FOUNDATION AND QUAID-E-TEHRIK ALTAF HUSSAIN

The welfare services provided by KKF for the last 19 years to poor destitute, widows, orphans and helpless people, are inspired by the leadership of the MQM's founder and leader Mr Altaf Hussain, who created this effective and organised committee of KKF some 19 years ago for providing welfare services to the poor, dispossessed and deprived people.

The sapling planted by him has now grown into a tall and thick tree under whose shade thousands, in fact, hundreds of thousands poor and deprived students, destitute, widows, orphaned children, disabled and helpless people find shelter and are benefited.

Mr. Altaf Hussain always preaches to his associates that maximum and every possible help and assistance should be extended to the poor, needy and helpless people.  He himself derives great satisfaction in personally helping the deserving people.  It is the result of his training that whether it be the establishing of cheap fruit stalls in Ramazan-ul-Mubarak, or Free Bazar or mobile dispensaries, the KKF volunteers provide help to poor and deserving people without any hesitation.  They neither want any reward nor seek any praise.  Their only concern is that no needy person be left out from their assistance programmes.  This selfless service is the ideology of Mr. Altaf Hussain.

Today, the social welfare organisation established by Quaid-e-Tehrik Altaf Hussain is actively engaged in its effort to mitigate the sufferings of hundred of thousand of poor and needy people.  Surely, it is in response to the prayers of the poor widows, orphan children, poor student girls and boys and various other deserving people, that despite heinous conspiracies hatched from all sides, the evil forces have so far failed miserably in their evil designs to crush the MQM or to eliminate Mr. Altaf Hussain. Under the sincere, courageous and fearless leadership of Mr. Altaf Hussain the Caravan of truth successfully dealing with the conspiracies of the evil forces, is moving forward towards its destination.
 
 

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