Current Projects
Al-Irshad Education Scholarships
Pakistan has the second highest number of out of school children, after Nigeria, in the world. Currently, 22.8 million children aged 5-16 not attending school, representing 44 per cent of the total population in this age group. Nearly 10.7 million boys and 8.6 million girls are enrolled at the primary level but only 3.6 million boys and 2.8 million girls reach at the lower secondary level. Almost 7.1 million (71 Lakh) boys and 5.8 million (58 lakh) girls drop out before they reach lower secondary level. This is probably the highest school dropout rate in the world.
We are operating in one of the underdeveloped subdivisions of Punjab, Pind Dadan Khan. This is one of the four subdivisions of district Jhelum. This subdivision is famous for Khewra Salt Mines, Asia’s largest salt mine, in use for over 2000 years. Abu Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni commonly known as al-Biruni used Nandna Fort located at Baghanawala-a small mountain village of Pind Dadan Khan-to measure the Earth’s radius. Αl-Biruni was an astronomer, mathematician, and philosopher. He was the first one to obtain a simple formula for measuring the Earth’s radius. The name of Government Al Beruni Degree College Pind Dadan Khan was honoured to Abu Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni. The area has a long history from the time of Alexander the Great’s invasion (325–327 BC). The small town of Jalalpur Sharif is in Pind Dadan Khan and is said to be where Alexander the Great’s famous horse, Bucephalus is buried.
According to the Population Census of 2017, the total population of subdivision Pind Dadan Khan is 336,841 (164,411 male:172,404 female and transgender 26). According to academic research conducted by Dr Waheed Mughal, more than 700 secondary school students drop out each year in subdivision Pind Dadan Khan. The purpose of Al-Irshad Education Scholarships is to help the poor students in completing their education. The Council has helped more than 2400 children in completing their school education.
Al-Irshad Kafalat Programme
As of 2020, Pakistan’s Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.557, and ranks 154 out of 189 countries. Pakistan’s HDI is one of the lowest in Asia, after Yemen and Afghanistan. For the fiscal year 2020–21, the World Bank recorded poverty in Pakistan at 39.3% by using the lower middle-income poverty rate of US$3.2 per day, and 78.4% the upper middle-income poverty rate of US$5.5 per day.
The purpose of Al-Irshad Kafalat Programme is to provide financial support to the impoverished families so that they can meet their daily needs. We give priority to the orphans, disable and sick people. The founder of the Council, Dr Waheed Mughal and his family has committed 2.5 million rupees every year for Al-Irshad Kafalat Programme.
Agahi (Awareness) Forum
Public awareness is important to increase enthusiasm and support, stimulate self-mobilisation and action, and mobilise local knowledge and resources. Public awareness is a way to bring certain issues to the attention of a group of people or concerned authorities. The Council regularly holds public awareness forums on different issues to education the rural community.
Educate a Woman- Educate a Family
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) said, “Acquisition of knowledge is binding on all Muslims (both men and women without any discrimination). [Narrated by Ibn Maja]. The old African proverb “If you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a family (nation)”.
The Council encourages and promotes women education in the remote rural areas. The Council has provided basic education and skills training programmes to nearly 450 women aged 12-25 living the remote rural areas of subdivision with the help of Community Development Council (CDC), Al-Markaz Jhelum.
Health Awareness Programmes
The Council delivers programs to raise health awareness among men and women of all ages. We mainly focus on mother and baby health. We arrange lectures, seminars and walks to raise health awareness among the rural community.
Disaster Response Force
Our Disaster Response Force responds to disasters and emergencies in Pakistan. We collect items from the local community and send them to the affected areas.
Love Your Life - Say No to Drugs
To promote a healthy life, the Council launched an awareness campaign ‘Manishiyat sey inkar- Zindgi sey piyar’ – Love your life, say no to drugs. The Council launched a massive campaign against the drug sellers in subdivision Pind Dadan Khan in 2003-4. The Council provided treatment and rehabilitation services to nearly 50 addicts with the help of Nai Zindagi Trust. The Council regularly organises sports events for the youth to engage them in healthy activities.
Al-Irshad Ambulance Service
The current population of Pakistan is more than 225 million. Pakistan ranks number 5th in the world by population in the list of 235 countries/territories. The country’s health care system is adversely affected by the non-availability of doctors and adequate medical facilities in its rural and remote areas. Many people go dead on their way to hospitals in nearby cities due to the absence of ambulance services.
Rural Areas Development Council-Al-Irshad is going to start ambulance service for the rural community of Union Council Pinanwal and its neighboring areas. The charges for using our ambulance service are:
- Within subdivision Pind Dadan Khan = Patrol cost + Rs. 500
- Outside of subdivision Pind Dadan Khan= Patrol cost + Rs. 1000