SAMAA TV Celebrates Iftar with displaced women and children to highlight their basic rights to health and education.

“Women and children are the most vulnerable in a society. We need to create a better future for the women and children of Pakistan through advocacy, creating support systems for children, awareness on body protection and enhancing legal and psychological services for the deprived communities” – Amir Jahangir, Chief Executive Officer, SAMAA TV

Karachi, September 18 – A Special Iftar Programme was held at the Edhi Center for Women and Children by SAMAA TV to highlight the emerging number of women and children who are living in various shelter homes across Pakistan in search for protection and care.

SAMAA TV, one of Pakistan’s leading Urdu news channels arranged this special iftar program, where more than 300 women and children of Edhi Center for Women and Children, the Chairman of State Life and other distinguished guests from the business, government and academia were present on the occasion.

The event highlighted that the socio-economic decline, which is being witnessed in Pakistan has resulted in many people still struggling for survival without proper access to shelter, food, water and medical assistance. Children are specially being affected, where due to lack of proper nutrition and healthcare, many children from the low-income groups are leading to malnutrition and an increase in preventable diseases and infections. The constant strain and tension due to insecurity and violence is also causing long-term psychological trauma for the children who are not receiving adequate psychosocial support.

Mr. Amir Jahangir, Chief Executive Officer of SAMAA TV shared that today’s venue, the Edhi Center was chosen to showcase what systems are working to address these increasing issues and how important synergistic efforts are to counter this alarming situation. Mr. Jahangir said that looking for innovative solution to society’s most pressing social problems, the Edhi Foundation, the largest welfare organization in Pakistan and the world’s largest private ambulance network provides the answer to many outcries in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Faisal Edhi said “Women, children, the elderly and the sick are most at risk as they are left without adequate support and care. The displaced widows are left alone to fend for themselves and their children. Furthermore, the lack of economic opportunities for women and the gradual breakdown of a traditional support system means women are facing an increasingly difficult life.”

Edhi also said “Majority of families rent accommodation that lack basic facilities, such as sanitation, water and electricity. According to a survey, shelter is the number one priority for internally displaced people (IDPs), followed by access to work and food.”

Faisal appreciated SAMAA TV for taking the time and feeling the responsibility as a social conscious entity and encouraged other media entities to follow on.

Mr. Amir Jahangir, Chief Executive Officer of SAMAA TV said that “Media is probably one of the strongest players in today’s society and has a great platform through which they can make a positive contribution to the nation. We salute Mr. Edhi's vision, which aims at creating Pakistan as a modern welfare state, which provides a safety net for the poor and needy while providing basic health and education with vocational skills”. Mr. Jahangir said that he hopes that one day Pakistan will be a model for other developing countries.

Speaking at the occasion Mr. Shahid Aziz Siddique, Chairman State Life said "“Some children are now having to look for work or beg in order to help their families survive. In Karachi, the situation is similar for children from especially poor displaced families. Apart from begging, children are also employed to sell products, work in agriculture or in manual labor. What is worrying for us as nation and stakeholders is that the traditional coping mechanisms are not only being stretched to the limit but are starting to break down, which is leading to all these societal problems.”

The Edhi foundation is a NON Profit organization which was established by Abdul Sattar Edhi, who has been in the business of providing social services since 1951.The Foundation has been successful in developing a model of welfare services in a large number of areas where the Foundation supplements and supports the government system by mobilizing community resources without burdening the public exchequer.

Currently the Edhi Foundation is a home for over 6,000 destitutes, runaways and mentally ill, and it provides transportation to over 1,000,000 persons annually to the hospitals, in addition to other wide-ranging services.

This special event was held under the banner of SAMAA TV special Iftar Program, “Iftar Ka Samaa.” Iftar Ka Samaa is produced specially in the Holy month of Ramadan and aims at sharing its spirit with the various communities across Pakistan, who through their hard work and dedication have made great contribution to the socio-economic development of the nation. The program also aims at working as the catalyst for voicing their concerns and issues and to promote the values of Unity and Humanity.

SAMAA TV is one of Pakistan’s leading private satellite television channels, which takes pride in its fair, factual and independent news coverage through its on-the-hour bulletins, breaking stories, incisive political analysis and current affairs programs. The channel is the first media channel is Pakistan to have established a well-integrated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program as part of it business activities. SAMAA TV’s CSR program carries various initiatives within health, education, environment and outreach programs focusing on improving the socio-economic situation of Pakistan.

SAMAA TV has also made a niche for itself through its programs on women and youth issues besides infotainment and sports. SAMAA TV, launched in December 2007 has network of district correspondents and five (5) bureaus across Pakistan along with international stringers in the Middle East, Europe and North America.