Petarian Foundation - Activities

Activities

Within this short span of life, the Foundation has already made substantial progress in demonstrating its viability as an NGO geared towards the service of Pakistan, Petaro and Petarians. Activities to date include:

• The First Petarian Convention 2004 under the theme “Petarians for Pakistan” held at Cadet College Petaro on 24-26 Dec 2004. Over 450 Petarians participated. Over Rs. 30 lacs donation collected for improving the standard of education at Cadet College Petaro.
• Scholarships for cadets at CCP: Scholarships are awarded to cadets at Cadet College Petaro based on merit and need. Six scholarships were given to cadets during 2004-2005, ten scholarships during 2005-2006, thirty-one scholarships during 2006-2007, and 45 scholarships during 2009-2010.
• Scholarship for ex-cadets: One ex-cadet was given scholarship for a period of 4 years for his studies in medicine at LUMHS, Jamshoro, while a second one has been granted a scholarship for his studies in engineering at NED University. A third ex-cadet has been given scholarship for studies at Bahria University
• CCP Teachers Training Program: The first Interactive Workshop was held at Islamabad for all teachers of CCP on 24-31 July 2005, managed by The Konsultants, Lahore. Further training programs shall be organized with the objective to improve the quality of education at CCP with better trained teaching staff.
• CCP Teachers’ English Language Teaching Program: The Petarian Foundation employed the services of Berlitz Language Center at Karachi to bring all the CCP teachers to a mark of excellence in their English language skills. The English language teaching program was started in the summer of 2006 at Petaro with nearly 30 teachers in participation. The summer program was intense while it will continue on weekends for the next 2 years.
• Special Skills Course for CCP Teachers at Aga Khan Training Center, Karachi in summer of 2006.
• Hajj: One CCP employee from the lower staff is chosen each year sponsored by the Petarian Foundation to go for Hajj since 2006. So far, the following have been benefited from this program - Mohsin Ali Shah (mess bearer) in 2006, Dheen Muhammad Khaskheli (mess bearer) in 2007, Muhammad Bakhsh Kachelo (Sr. Clerk Examination Branch) in 2008, and Azher Hussain (Sr. Clerk, Accounts Branch) in 2009.
• Earthquake Relief Work: Immediate Relief and Medical Camp for Earthquake affected population at Rerah, Bagh, AJK during Oct-Nov 2005. The Petarian Foundation distributed over 1500 tents, 4000 blankets and quilts, food rations, clothes, and other relief goods to the affected population in Bagh district, AJK after conducting field surveys of actual damage and destruction in the mountain villages. An average of 5 doctors remained on duty during the first 4 weeks of emergency (including one lady doctor) to provide primary medical relief. We also operated a field ambulance to transport secondary and tertiary patients with referrals to the larger hospitals in Bagh.
• Healthcare units: Six Basic Health Units / Forward Health Posts were reconstructed by the Foundation in Bagh district, AJK at Rerah, Lohar Bela, Seri Gala, Seri Pehi, Samni and Sarbuland. The Foundation also provided services of 2-3 fulltime doctors for a period of 10 months who also supervised a medical staff of nearly 20 people at these clinics. These clinics were built and run under an agreement with the District Health Officer, Bagh, AJK.
• Sarbuland Village Project: As a part of the rehabilitation of the earthquake affectees, the Petarian Foundation took over the Sarbuland Village project from Brig. Naeem Sadiq during its early phase, and continued its development and management for over a year. The village was built on virgin land with 98 homes in the first phase and 76 homes in the second. Of these, 65 were allotted to widows in the first phase. The village was occupied by over 800 residents in the first phase. The village provided all facilities such as school for 200 children, basic heathcare unit, vocational training center for women, roads, electricity, water and sewage systems, sanitation services, security services, round the clock maintenance, gas cookers, sewing machines, etc. A total staff of nearly 70 people were employed including teachers, doctors, medical staff, electricians, plumbers, laborers, security guards, sanitation staff and administration staff to manage the day to day affairs of the village. Most of these were local people from Bagh. The total donations received and spent on this project (mostly in kind) exceeded US$ 2 million.
• Relief Camp for IDPs of Swat Operation: Petarian Foundation joined hands with the Abdalian Association to establish a camp for the refugees of Swat Operation at Peshawar. Over 500 refugees were accommodated and taken care of in the camp.
• Newsletter: The Petarian Foundation has been reporting its activities through a periodic newsletter.