JZ'S ARTICLE: MEN OF HONOUR AWARDS AN INSPIRATIONAL EVENT

         JZ’S  MOTTO: SERBE HUMANITY IN REALITY

 MEN OF HONOUR AWARDS

AN INSPIRATIONAL EVENT

BY JAVED ZAHEER, FREE EXPRESSION AWARD WINNER

TORONTO: The Regional Municipality of York organized the 2019 Men of Honour Awards in support of York Region.

The first of its kind, the  awards gala was an inspirational event.The nominees met the criteria set. It was held at the Le Parc, Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, on January 17, 2019. The proceeds to benefit the Centre for Dream.

The Men of Honour award honours and celebrates the men who cares and enhance the well-being of the community in York Region.

                                                   The judges were: Frank Bosnjak, Dr Jasveen Rattan, Tabitha Rose and Dan Shaikh.

 NOMINEES:There were seven nominees for Lifetime Achievement Award.

                                                   There were six nominees for Honourary Award. Distinguished community leader Khalid Usman was one of them.

                                                   There were nineteen nominees for  Business Excellence Award. Shahid Hashmi,  Amir Shamsi, Mian Nadeem and Shahab Hassan were among them.

                                                   About Shahid Hashmi, it was written in the souvenir as: “Shahid Hashmi has countless achievements, both professional and community related. Shahid has worked in various capacities where he served, hosted numerous programs for Region of Peel, organizations standing for women rights, Red Cross, NFP organization, Lions club and has maintained a heavy political involvement. He was awarded Queen Elizabeth II Gold Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee Medals in 2002 and 2012 respectively. He continues to contribute to the community without realizing any profit and self-promotion.”

                                                   There were eleven nominees for Community Hero Award. Khalid Usman was one of them.    

                                                   There were thirty six nominees for the Community Service Award including Shahid Hashmi, Amir Shamsi, Khalid Usman and Shahab Hassan.

                                                   There were nine nominees for leadership in Advocacy & Innovation Award. Sohabe Hashmi, eldest son of Shahid Hashmi was one of them.

                                                   Sohabe was praised in the souvenir as: “He has spent countless hours towards charitable causes for awareness and fundraising, working with international and Canadian charities. He has contributed to the community as a professional accountant, volunteering in a CRA income tax program helping people who cannot afford to pay for their returns. He has kept his plate full by serving in elections and by-elections, and has helped raise funds for charities across the world namely, Bosnia, Indonesia, Pakistan and for especially Rohingya Crisis.”

                                                   There were ten nominees for Special Achievement Award. Mehdi Amin was one of them.

                                                   There were ten nominees for Young Professional Award. Armin Shafee was one of them.

                                                   There were only two nominees, Jeff Leung and Sid Kiyoshi Ikeda, in the nominees for Green Initiative Award.

                                                   Seema Hasmi, spouse of Shahid Hashmi and mother of Sohabe Hashmi, was invited on the stage to present awards to nominees of a category.

GREETING MESSAGES: In his message, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau congratulated and extended his warmest greetings to all those who attended the Men of Honour York Region Award Gala.

                                                   He said: “This event offers wonderful opportunity to recognize the achievements of outstanding men in the York Region. I would like to congratulate everyone being honoured for their contributions to their community. Your many accomplishments makes you most deserving of this special recognition. I also would like to thank the members and volunteers of Canada Top Choice Charitable Foundation for making this event possible.”

Wayne Emerson, York Region Chairman and CEO, said: “York Region is one of the most diverse and rapidly growing communities in Canada. The contributions of the celebrated community heroes reflect and support York Region’s of enhancing community health and well-being.”

The other dignitaries who congratulated and greeted were the Town of Georgina Mayor  Margaret Quirk,  Virginia Hackson Mayor of East Gwillimbury, Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham, Linda Jackson, Regional Councillor, City of Vaughan,  and Nirmala Armstrong, former Markham Councillor.  

The Honourary Co-Chairs were Wayne Emerson, York Region Chairman, Margaret Quirk, Georgina Mayor, Virginia Hackson, East Gwillimbury Mayor,  Frank Scarpitti, Markham Mayor,

Linda Jackson, Vaughan Regional Councillor,

  Nirmala Armstrong, former Markham Regional Councillor.

                                                   The event organizers were

Rosanna Penilla-Bharucha, Founder of Men of Honour, Tabi Moazzam, Co-Founder of Men of Honour, Tom Muench, Event Co-Chair, Jennifer Sy, Event Co-Chair.

                                                   Members of the event organizing committee were

Emma Caicco, Colin Tyler, Laura Artibelo, Filip Plaskota Soraya Mangal.and   

 Shahid Hashmi said about Sohabe Hashmi as: “Sohabe was recently nominated and awarded a very prestigious award from ‘York Region Men of Honour’ Award in the “Leadership in Advocacy & Innovation”, an important category. It was a joint category and his recognition pertain to his leadership in community service and charitable causes.”                                                                         JZ’S PROFILE:  Founder of SHIR International Network (Serve Humanity In Reality---SHIR), declared by Judges as one of 75 Finalist Best Canadian Immigrants, an Honour for the Pakistani Community. Joined Journalism Profession in 1974 (Daily `SUN’, Karachi) and still serving as a professional journalist (2014). Javed Zaheer, Free Expression Award Winner (Awarded by National Ethnic Press & Media Council of Canada—NEPMCC. Award presented by Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, Canada), Desi Idol Recognition Award Winner (Presented by North American Desi Idol), Member/Honorary Director of NEPMCC, Veteran Active Member (VAM) of Toronto Press Club, Ex-Member of The National Club and The Ontario Club, Honorary Editor of English Weekly `Pakistan Abroad’, Canada, ex-Chief Editor (Honorary) of English Weekly `The Ambassador’, Canada, ex-Chief Editor (Honorary) of English Weekly `DAWN', Canada, ex-Senior Sub-Editor of English Daily DAWN, Pakistan (From 1986-1999), Chairman, CANOPI, Director of Children Dignity Foundation (CDF---Canada & Pakistan) and Honorary Director, Canpak, Chamber of Commerce, and Honorary Director Information, Pak Seniors Forum (PSF), is contributing purely on Voluntary and Honorary Basis in order to serve all people and communities. Contact: jazamedia@hotmail.com To read more JZ’s exclusive articles , please visit: nepmcc website (Editorial S          ections. Scan years from 2004).

JjZ'S ARTICLE:EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW HWO GOAL: THALASSEMIA FREE PAKISTAN

           EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

HWO GOAL: THALASSEMIA  

         FREE  PAKISTAN

BY JAVED ZAHEER, FREE EXPRESSION AWARD WINNER

TORONTO: The Healers Welfare Organization (HWO), based in Karachi, Pakistan,  like many other such organizations is actively involved in tremendous  social, welfare and humanitarian work. HWO contribution is tremendous.

HWO has big plans and projects. Their goal is to make Pakistan Thalassemia free which is very challenging task. The other major project is to build an Orphanage House in Karachi where children from urban and remotest areas would be provided the best possible facilities and care.

Kishwar Saleem is one such  lady. She is the founder of HWO. Her husband and three daughters are also involved in this cause along with strong team of volunteers including young students,  doctors, engineers and other professionals. In short, mostly educated and dynamic young people. 

In a country like Pakistan where over ninety per cent of the people right from the top to the bottom are involved in worst-ever massive corruption, crimes and cruelties.

Most the people are getting water mixed with sewage lines, from places where the water contains including dead cows & buffaloes, donkeys, dogs and other wild animals and poisonous insects. 

The provincial and municipal authorities are hands in glove with the most powerful and dreaded mafias. Such people or culprits or criminals are definitely neither Muslims nor human  beings but are extremely dangerous human beasts. With such nature, character, attitude and tremendous evil contributions they have broken all relationship with and cease to be Muslims.

They feed hungry people and foodlovers in the small and good restaurants and hotels meat including of stray dogs, cats, rats, crows, donkeys and pigs. Such horrible is the situation.

In India too corruption is rampant and most people are facing such and more gruesome crimes and cruelties. The rulers, parties and leaders are all of the same nature and character. Their only role as human beasts is to crush the helpless, innocent and poor people in such a way that they either die or can never raise their heads. They are all cruel, cunning and puppets of Colonial rulers.

       While replying to a question  in the parliament about imposing and awarding death penalty, it is on record that the Chairman, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) smiled and said that over ninety per cent people or population would be hanged.

       Under such horrible and terrible situation and condition, it is extremely dangerous and challenging for any good person, particularly women, to accept the toughest challenges and keep serving, helping and supporting the helpless, innocent, poor and needy people in the remotest part of the country like Thar, Mithi and  border areas of Sindh province where hundreds of children are still dying, I would say confidentially that they being  deliberately denied all basic facilities. This indeed is a  criminal act and worst kind of cruelties. The leaders are no doubt  immoral and characterless, who looted billions of dollars of people and became billionaires.

They definitely deserve rigorous life imprisonment and  death penalty.

I hold the army, all authorities including federal, provincial, municipal authorities and rulers most responsible. The corrupt ones including in the army are working hands in gloves with the mafia. 

I met Kishwar Saleem of Healer Welfare Organization. HWO, a registered organization, first time in Toronto, Canada, and salute her and all good, honest and true people and leaders for courageously accepting such difficult tasks and challenges.

Kishwar Saleem came to my house for an exclusive interview along with Afzal Khan Nayyar and Ayesha Alam of Paradise forever (P4E).  Afzal Khan introduced both the ladies to and my family.  

During the interview, Kishwar Saleem said and claimed that she was inspired by her father Abdul Rasheed Qureshi (late),who too remain engaged in welfare activities and considered him as his guide and teacher in humanitarian  work.

Kishwar has three daughters. One daughter, who is an engineer, is in Toronto. Kishwar keeps visiting her. Two daughters, one an engineer and the other daughter, live Karachi, Pakistan. All of the daughters are working with their mother in welfare work under Healers Welfare organization. Kishwar’s husband, Syed Saleemuddin Qadri, appreciates her work and keeps encouraging her. He also is engaged in HWO activities, mostly fundraising.

 The Vice Chairman of HWO is Rumella Masood.  Four other  workers who actively work for HWO are Samina Altaf Hussain, Zareen Zubair and Shamama Ejaz, Mehreen Aslam.

Aayesha Alam of  Fifty Plus Seniors Club, is the Coordinator of HWO in Canada. In Canada, it is working as Healers Welfare International Organization (HWIO). Aayesha is actively involved in social, welfare and humanitarian work. She has very rich experience. She keeps contribruting tremendously.

Two big organizations like GSK  Engro and Hamdard help HWO by sponsoring and providing their products to the camps organized by HWO. These camps are set up in the most neglected areas of Sindh including Mithi and Tharparkar.

Kishwar leads the HWO team.  The tean members are from posh areas as well.

HWO provides help and support for free medical services, educational support, health issues, vocational training and in much more fields.

About two hundred volunteers work closely including facing toughest challenges.

 Kishwar said that camps are regularly organized in urban areas like Nawabshah and remotest areas likeThar and villages near border areas in Sindh.

 Ansar Burney keeps encouraging her by visiting the places where she is involved in welfa and humanitarian activities.

HWO volunteers also help children suffering from thalassemia and cancer.

One of Kishwar’s daughters, Doctor Syeda Maharukh Qadri,   is working in Indus hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, and doing work on hepatitis.   The other one, Syeda Mehwish Qadri is an engineer. The eldest one is Syeda Fatima Qadri. She is working in CIBC, Toronto, Canada.

 HWO digs wells in the areas lacking water, holds medical camps and distributes medicines. Camps see eye patients and refer them to hospitals for cataract operations. Donates blood to thalassemia patients (children).

 HWO looks after the needs of the children in major hospitals. In summer, the HWO team helps large number of heatwave patients in the hospitals including Civil and JPMC. Patients were provided medicines and other essential needs.

  In the beginning of every Ramzan over four hundred bags full of food items including rice, lintels, edible oil and many other things  are distributed among the poor and the deserving ones.

 HWO distributes Horlicks and  Olpers milk in Thar and remotest areas and also in cities and urban areas where children are suffering from malnutrition

 Bags of food items are provided at foothpaths and bus stops.

 The HWO volunteers hold anti-tobacco campaigns in schools, colleges and under privileged areas.

 Camps are organized in schools and underprivileged areas where testing of thalassemia is done along with  BMI, BMD and eye testing are carried out.

 HWO distributes goodie bags to children at NICH, Darus Sukoon and children cancer hospitals.

 Blankets and sweaters were distributed to deserving and poor people in Thatta.

 Kishwar’s father is from Haryana and mother is from Hyderabad Deccan.

 Ayesha Alam actively helps HWO by sending containers of clothes and food items for distribution among the needy ones in camps in Pakistan

 She collected and donated money for the heatwave victims and patients. Dr Natasha informed Kishwar that the work of HWO was acknowledged by an American magazine. 

Photo Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgkJUH2swpM  

JZ’S PROFILE:  Founder of SHIR International Network (Serve Humanity In Reality---SHIR), declared by Judges as one of 75 Finalist Best Canadian Immigrants, an Honour for the Pakistani Community. Joined Journalism Profession in 1974 (Daily `SUN’, Karachi) and still serving as a professional journalist (2014). Javed Zaheer, Free Expression Award Winner (Awarded by National Ethnic Press & Media Council of Canada—NEPMCC. Award presented by Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, Canada), Desi Idol Recognition Award Winner (Presented by North American Desi Idol), Member/Honorary Director of NEPMCC, Veteran Active Member (VAM) of Toronto Press Club, Ex-Member of The National Club and The Ontario Club, Honorary Editor of English Weekly `Pakistan Abroad’, Canada, ex-Chief Editor (Honorary) of English Weekly `The Ambassador’, Canada, ex-Chief Editor (Honorary) of English Weekly `DAWN', Canada, ex-Senior Sub-Editor of English Daily DAWN, Pakistan (From 1986-1999), Chairman, CANOPI, Director of Children Dignity Foundation (CDF---Canada & Pakistan) and Honorary Director, Canpak, Chamber of Commerce, and Honorary Director Information, Pak Seniors Forum (PSF), is contributing purely on Voluntary and Honorary Basis in order to serve all people and communities. Contact: jazamedia@hotmail.com To read more JZ’s exclusive articles , please visit: nepmcc website (Editorial Sections. Scan years from 2004).