Walk held to mark Int'l Volunteers' Day
NCHD Chairman terms volunteerism as backbone of development
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—The International Volunteer's Day was celebrated with great deal of enthusiasm in Islamabad on Monday.
A walk arranged by National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) was the apex of Monday's activity in which more than 2000 volunteers of NCHD from all over Pakistan participated.
Dr Nasim Ashraf Minister of State and Chairman NCHD while addressing the national volunteers said that "volunteerism is the backbone of development in the country ". He attributed the launching of national volunteer corps to the president General Pervez Musharraf and paid rich tributes to his leadership. Chairman NCHD said that it is only through the spirit of volunteerism that we can succeed in attaining the millennium development goals (MDGs) in stipulated time.
Dr Nasim Ashraf said that it is our utmost effort to promote education and health for all and this can't be achieved without the involvement of communities on volunteer basis.
The Chairman NCHD said that it was the vision of President Pervez Musharraf and effort of NCHD volunteers that made the 1st ever International volunteers conference a great success last year in Pakistan.
He also thanked the secretary General of United Nation Mr Koofi Anan for his continuous support to NCHD's volunteers initiative which has so far managed to register 100000/- volunteers in Pakistan and provided full support to National Volunteers Movement (NVM).
Dr Nasim Ashraf said that NCHD volunteers are not only working relentlessly in Mansehra district but are also providing support to other earthquake effected districts of NWFP and AJK through Army and NVM.Ms Anisa Zeb Minister of State for Information said that the nation's response in the recent earthquake has proved that Pakistanis are an alive nation who can face and meet any challenge.
She said that it is now our duty to respond to the call of our leadership and turn this disaster in to opportunity with the spirit of volunteerism. She paid rich tributes to the selfless volunteers of NCHD and NVM who are providing all possible support to the effecties of earthquake in difficult areas of AJK and NWFP.
Abdul Sattar Edhi the renowned philanthropist and member of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) said that he has full faith in the cause of volunteerism and it only through this spirit that we can change the fate of our country. Edhi said that launching of National Volunteer Corp and now the NVM supported by NCHD is an excellent step by the present leadership. He paid rich tributes to the volunteers of NCHD for there selfless services in 20 districts of Pakistan and said that the spirit of volunteerism needs to be institutionalized on permanent basis from a body like NCHD. Mohammad Ali Durrani Advisor to the Prime Minister and Chairman NVM along with Mr Jan J .Vandermortele (UN Resident Coordinator) also participated in the walk and addressed the volunteers and media.