Govt to give extensive training to volunteers: NCSW Chairman
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—The government is making a plan to provide training facilities to volunteers so that they may perform effectively for development of the country, Chairman of National Council of Social Welfare (NCSW) Rais Jahangir Ahmad said Wednesday.
He was addressing a convention organised by the NCSW in collaboration with Pakistan NGOs Federation in connection with the International Volunteers Day. The NCSW Chairman said the emergence of the NGOs in the field of social services was the manifestation of human urge to help other fellow beings.
He said the government would constitute a law to create morebetter environment for volunteer organisations to accelerate the pace of social development in the society. “It is our collective responsibility to indicate thegrievances of deprived segments of society and try to eradicate their difficulties, so that they might live their life as a prosperous citizens of the country,” he said. He said the NCSW has contributed in addressing the social problems inculcating the spirit of self-help and self-reliance among the masses. Chairman of Pakistan NGOs Federation Tayyab Siddiqui said enhanced cooperation among social welfare organisations would help minimise the sufferings of common man.
He said proper utilization of available resources could improve the living standard of common man and make them enlightened citizens.
Chief Executive of Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy ShahnazWazir Ali said there were 83,000 welfare organisations working in the country. She stressed the need for making concerted efforts for thewelfare of the marginalised segments of the society. Chairman of Pakistan Mardrassah Support Programme Dr. F.AAdrish said efforts were being made to activate the religious institutions as a part of efforts to address the social problemsconfronting the poor people.
Chief Executive of Centre for Civic Education Nasrullah Zafarsaid his organization was working in collaboration with 58 educational institutions to provide better facilities to school- going children. Maulana Zafar, a Khateeb of local mosque, said Islam emphasis upon the provision of social welfare services not only to the Muslims but also all the human beings without any distinction and discrimination.
Dr. Muhammad Amjad of the Shelter Organization said hisorganization had set up a 400-bed hospital after October 8 earthquake to provide health facilities to the quake-victims.