BY: FT Correspondent:
RAWALPINDI —The Jinnah Iqbal South Asian Forum has announced a special initiative to distribute one month’s dry ration among educated, widowed, white-collar and deserving women to enable them to participate in Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations with dignity.
Founder Chairman of the Forum Rana Abdul Baqi said a special ration distribution ceremony would be held on August 14, 2026, at Jinnah Iqbal Education, Rawalpindi. Secretary General of the Thinkers Forum of Pakistan, Col. (Retd.) Bakhtiar Hakeem, will preside over the ceremony.
Rana Abdul Baqi said participants, particularly children, would be briefed about the Pakistan Movement, its historical background and the unprecedented sacrifices made by their forefathers for the creation of Pakistan.
He stressed that Independence Day celebrations should have a meaningful purpose and that the younger generation must be made aware of the struggle and sacrifices of their elders. He said instead of meaningless revelry, noise and fanfare, young people should understand their responsibilities as citizens and express gratitude to Almighty Allah for the precious blessing of freedom.
Rana Abdul Baqi said Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal envisioned a Pakistan where the objectives of independence would be translated into social and economic justice, including the elimination of poverty and deprivation.
In line with the vision of the national leaders, he said, the Jinnah Iqbal Forum would provide dry-ration packages to educated, widowed and needy women struggling with rising inflation, unemployment and the heavy burden of taxes reflected in utility bills.
He further said renowned writer and poet, PTV Censor Board member and recipient of the International SAARC Writers Award, Ms. Farheen Chaudhry, would be the chief guest at the ceremony.
Rana Abdul Baqi also appealed to social welfare organizations, philanthropists and people of means to come forward and support poor and deserving members of society.
