HELP FEED THE EXTREMELY POOR IN PAKISTAN

HELP FEED 1,000 EXTREMELY POOR FAMILIES IN PAKISTAN EVERY MONTH AT A COST OF USD 30 PER FAMILY.

According to the Asian Development Bank's Poverty Data: Pakistan Indicators, in 2022, 21.9% of Pakistan's 236 million people live below the national poverty line. In terms of the total population, there are around 51,684,000 individuals who get by on a meager monthly income of about Rs1313 (USD13).

The Plan 

To distribute to 1000 families in the area of Nawabshah, Sindh Province. 

Each food basket is expected to last approx 1 month for a family of 4 or 5.

Once funds are sufficient or reaches for at least 50 families, we will start distribution.

Each basket consists of 

• 15 kg Wheat Flour
• 5 kg Basmathi rice
• 5 kg Sugar
• 2 liters of Cooking Oil
• 1 kg Tea
• 1 kg Red Chilli
• 2 kg Pulses
• 8 packs of Milk Powder
• 20 packs Biscuits
• 3 packs of Soap Powder
• 3 packs of Bath Soap

Cost per Foodpack : USD 30 

Cost : USD 30 x 1000 : USD 30000

Where possible, we would like to continue this initiative, as they are simply too many young children and elderly folks, living in poverty. With the last flood, it will take time for them to grow crops and be able to earn properly again.

Climate change causes poverty

One of the major contributing factors to the high poverty rate in Pakistan is the effect of climate change-induced disasters that increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather. The whole world saw how devastating floods in 2022 flooded one-third of the country, forced 33 million people to leave their homes, destroyed 2 million hectares of farmland, killed 1,164,270 animals, and left 2.1 million people homeless and without homes. 

Climate change is here to stay. Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change, and ranked 5th among the countries affected by extreme weather caused by climate change. 
The World Bank said the recent 2022 floods are set to drag between SIX TO NINE MILLION PAKISTANIS INTO POVERTY. 

Pakistan's poor need help urgently.

In light of the horrifying level of poverty coupled with its vulnerability to climate change, Pakistan and the UN are seeking USD 16 billion from donor countries to finance the rebuilding of the country after devastating floods that were mainly attributed to climate change.

While the money Pakistan hopes to get from donor countries arrives, the 52 million extremely impoverished people in Pakistan are crying out in silence for assistance from the outside world. They urgently require assistance now, not later. As of now, even one square meal per day is sometimes beyond their means.

Pakistan’s poor are facing health risks as a result of not getting enough food to eat.

The World Health Organisation reports that the food crisis in Pakistan is putting more people at risk of contracting life-threatening illnesses, particularly the most vulnerable groups; the children, the elderly, pregnant and lactating mothers, their babies, and those who suffer from chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes.

The Organisation further said, “Amongst the biggest concerns are the high rates of severe acute malnutrition, especially among children under the age of five years.”

Let’s provide food baskets for the extremely poor. 

Allah says in Surah Al-Maaidah verses 2, that all Muslims are brothers. Therefore, one of the tenets of our faith is to assist fellow Muslims in overcoming their suffering and challenges, for instance, our brothers in Pakistan who find it extremely difficult to put food on the table on the daily basis. 

“Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancor: fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment” …. Surah Al-Maaidah verses 2.

In a hadith narrated by Abdullah bin Amr; A man asked the Prophet SAW, "What Islamic traits are the best?" The Prophet said, "Feed the people, and greet those whom you know and those whom you do not know." Sahih al-Bukhari 6236

We appeal to all Muslims to help provide food baskets for the extremely poor here in Pakistan.

Iltizam Relief Society formerly known as Al-I'tisam Relief Program Association was registered in Malaysia in April 2013. Our headquarters are in the Malaysian state of Selangor.

Since the beginning of our organization, we have been involved in relief causes, including disaster response. At the moment, we are working on projects in 11 countries, including Malaysia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, India (including Kashmir), Nepal, and Pakistan, continuously deliver food aid for the hungry, provide skills training for the underprivileged, build facilities to help the marginalised obtain clean and safe water, build schools, and many other things.

We believe that by assisting the marginalized and poor, as well as being present on the ground and interacting with these people, we can understand, share, and alleviate their suffering, one family at a time.

Iltizam experience in Pakistan.

Pakistan is the last country we ventured into. We responded to the call of 33 million flood victims in Sindh at the end of October 2022. 

Six of our most experienced staff members and volunteers led by the Chief Executive Officer delivered food baskets to 500 families over the course of three days. The food basket was successfully delivered directly to flood victims seeking refuge along roadsides, on the bank of an irrigation channel, on higher ground in their village surrounded by water, or simply in an open field away from the flood area with the assistance of our local NGO partner in Nawabshah, Sindh. 

In addition to the food baskets, Iltizam distributed 3,000 packs of ready-to-eat food to the flood-ravaged area around Nawabshah. Due to the difficulty in reaching the people, the operation proves to be a real challenge. As widely reported in the media, approximately one-third of Pakistan, particularly Nawabshah, was submerged in water. 

Despite all of the challenges and difficulties, the mission was completed successfully and on time.

Iltizam's local partner is knowledgeable, dependable, and well-connected. Their exceptional capability gives us an advantage in smoothly delivering the food packs and ready-to-eat food.

One issue was that we could become ill from things like cholera, malaria, and food poisoning. We have taken the necessary vaccinations, as advised by our local partners, to protect ourselves from diseases that could harm us.

The experience we had there last year taught us valuable lessons for future projects anywhere in Pakistan. When it comes to approving a visa for a foreign NGO to enter their country, the government is particularly stringent. We are more confident that we can do more projects in Pakistan since our first mission there last year.