Abroo Foundation, a Lahore-based welfare and educational organisation, has announced plans to expand its mission to Karachi, following 23 years of providing education and support services to underprivileged children.
The announcement was made by the foundation’s Chairperson, Ms. Rubina Shakeel, during an introductory press conference at the Karachi Press Club. She briefed journalists on the organisation’s objectives, its achievements over the past 23 years and its future plans. Dr. Rais Merchant, Rabia Shakeel, Mrs. Khalid and Umama Arif Hassan were also present.
Rubina Shakeel said the foundation began its journey 23 years ago in a small garage in Lahore, initially serving just four children. The initiative gradually expanded to accommodate 25 to 30 children and has now reached approximately 50,000 beneficiaries, according to the chairperson.
She said the foundation currently operates 11 campuses across Lahore, providing education to thousands of children.
Education and Welfare Services
The chairperson said Abroo Foundation provides students with quality education as well as free books, notebooks, uniforms and daily meals.
The organisation has also established a facility called Peace Home, where homeless and destitute children receive accommodation, food, education and clothing.
According to Rubina Shakeel, the late founder, Shakeel Qureshi, made arrangements during his lifetime to establish permanent sources of income for the foundation’s welfare projects.
Initiatives for Financial Self-Sufficiency
She said the foundation aims to remain financially self-sufficient rather than depend entirely on donations. Its income-generating initiatives include agricultural land, a dairy farm, a goat-breeding farm and a cattle farm.
The foundation also operates thrift shops, where donated items such as used clothes, blankets, quilts, household utensils and shoes are collected from homes across Lahore and sold at affordable prices.
Other initiatives include an industrial home equipped with sewing machines, where clothes for children are stitched and funds are generated; a medical centre that provides free treatment to underprivileged patients; and an employment scheme under which carts are provided to unemployed individuals to help them earn a livelihood with dignity.
The foundation has also launched a dry-waste collection campaign. Rubina Shakeel said the organisation currently operates four waste-collection vehicles that collect dry waste from designated areas at scheduled times. She said the initiative has strengthened the foundation’s financial position.
Qarz-e-Hasna Supports Welfare Activities
The chairperson acknowledged that income from these initiatives is not sufficient to cover the organisation’s total expenses.
To meet the shortfall, she said the foundation obtains Qarz-e-Hasna, or interest-free loans, from its supporters and repays them every year during Ramadan.
Expansion Plans for Karachi
Rubina Shakeel said the foundation now intends to extend its educational and welfare mission from Lahore to Karachi.
At the conclusion of the press conference, she appealed to journalists in Karachi to highlight the organisation’s work and help communicate its mission to the public.
She also thanked members of the Karachi Press Club for facilitating the press conference and giving the foundation an opportunity to brief the media on its activities and future direction.