A Tribute to Saba Aslam
Education and Welfare Trust
By AbuBakar Vakil
Mr. Saghir Aslam, Mr. AbuBakar Vakil and others at the
interfaith conference |
The
Chairman of Saba Aslam Education and Welfare Trust, Br. Saghir
Aslam is a good friend of mine. While I was planning to go
to Pakistan in the month of February this year, he informed
me of the interfaith conference which was going to be held
in Islamabad Pakistan on the 24th of April. “Please
attend it and I will take you to the places where Saba Trust
is activity providing a number of community services.”
I am very glad that I listened to him.
As per my promise I arrived in Islamabad on the evening of
April 22. The next day Saghir Bhai came to pick me up in the
morning from the Marriott hotel in Islamabad. Incidentally
the hotel was also arranged by him. We started heading towards
Channan Gujrat near Kharian, where Saba Trust has built an
education center with separate sections for boys and girls.
I happened to learn more about the future plans of the Trust.
Here I must mention that I saw a different Saghir Aslam. I
always considered him a reticent person keeping a low profile.
He is extremely pragmatic without any show off. But the thing
I noticed in Pakistan was that he has besides the things I
wrote above, a real tender heart. While talking about the
less fortunate people, the pains they go through I saw tears
rolling down his cheeks. I became conscious of his caring
nature and his desire to extend help to the needy and the
less privileged. I began to think if there were more people
like him, the world would become a great place to live in.
Mr.
AbuBakar Vakil and Mr. Saghir Aslam with a group of
underpriviledged Pakistanis who received aid from the
Saba Aslam Education and Welfare Trust |
We
arrived at the “Wisdom House in Channan Gugrat”
where I met with the staff, manager and his helpers. They
were all so well organized and the services they were providing
were truly meritorious. Teachers are well paid, they are given
accommodation with free commute from and to the place they
live. Girl students have lady teachers and boys have male
teachers. The classes range from 1st grade to graduate level.
For the graduation they have science and art faculties. The
teachers are well qualified and the students are bright and
well-mannered. I was given full respect by everyone present.
I felt a friendly atmosphere in the environment. On the way
back Saghir Aslam showed me a big piece of land 1200 kanal
or 24000 marlas for future educational activities where construction
will start in June this year. He took me to the head office
of Saba Trust where I was asked to distribute beautiful gifts
among the needy people. He showed me bridal dowry for the
needy families. I was amazed to see him doing so many things
single-handedly and still taking care of his personal matters.
Of course his family and some others extend their help, yet
a group of people cannot do what he is doing all by himself.
He should be given credit and help in his endeavor in everyway
possible.
The next day I attended the Interfaith Peace Conference. Here
I saw again the same kind of organizational perfection. The
speeches were given by the Federal Ministers, bishop, his
wife and son, well known community leaders and finally by
Saghir Aslam. It was worthwhile for everyone to attend the
conference. Everyone emphasized that religious rancor was
politically motivated. Saghir Bhai expounded on the activities
of Saba Trust in Pakistan. He expressed the need of harmony
and team work to help humanity prosper. I hope like minded
people will join hands with him to achieve the goals set for
this purpose. I have made up my mind to help him in every
possible way.
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