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AJK SOS Children's Village stone laid

From a correspondent

Muzaffarabad: Foundation stone of the first SOS Children's Village in Azad Jammu Kashmir was laid on Saturday.

Prime Minister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhary unveiled the plaque at the Makri locality of AJK capital.

Kashmir Affairs Minister Abbas Sarfaraz, foreign diplomats including America, UK, Austria, Canada, Jordan, Lebanon, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Arab Emirates and president SOS Kinderdorf International Helmet Kutine, President SOS Children's Villages of Pakistan, Mrs. Souriya Anwar, Chairperson Friends Of SOS Children's Villages Of Pakistan Mrs. Safia Awan were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, Sultan said that every village and town of occupied Jammu and Kashmir needs SOS Children's Village as thousands of children have been made orphans by the Indian occupation forces.

He stated that children are being killed before their parents by Indian armed forces and the world community, and so-called super powers are not playing their due role for end to Kashmiris genocide.

Sultan said his govt wants to have SOS Children's Village in all the seven districts of AJK and for its construction will provide all cooperation to Friends Of SOS Children's Villages of Pakistan.

He also assured financial assistance for the construction and maintenance of villages in AJK.

SOS Kinderdorf International President Helmet Kutine urged for help of children and thanked the AJK govt for their rousing welcome.

He added the setup of SOS village is less challenging than its maintenance. He urged people to help women to become good mothers of the children in this village.

Ambassador, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Austrian Embassy, Walter Howadt said to close eyes to humanitarian problems is not the humanitarian virtue. He said that we should forget bombs and guns and have weapons of love and innocence.

Friends of SOS Children's Villages Chairperson Mrs Safia Awan said the village here would comprise 12 homes, an administration block, community centre, a high school, primary school, a boys hostel, a dispensary and a mosque.

She said by the grace of Almighty Allah all the homes and primary school have been donated. Later, Prime Minister Sultan Mehmood Chaudahary performed the stone lying.

On Safia Awan's request, a moment of silence and prayer, for all the suffering children on the planet was observed.

Earlier an enthusiastic welcome was accorded to the 50-member delegation of Friends of SOS Children's Villages on their arrival at Muzaffarabad airport by three helicopters.

AJK senior minister, adviser to AJK prime minister, secretary Kashmir Liberation Cell, Sardar Sowar Khan, and other high officials received the delegation.

Thousands of school children waving Pakistani and SOS Village flags showered flower petals on the delegation at the airport.

Rs 3m cheque

Federal Minister of Kashmir affairs Abbas Sarfaraz Khan has gave a cheque Rs 3 million to the Friends of SOS Children's villages Of Pakistan for the construction of community center in the AJK's first SOS children village.

He presented the cheque to Mrs Safia Awan chairperson Friends of SOS children's villages of Pakistan in the foundation-stone the occasion.

Safia Awan said this amount would be used for the construction of community center in the SOS children village.

She said the funds for this project has been donated by HE Assad Al-Zuahir, Al Shirifa Sukana Adnan of Saudi Arabia, Louise Cote and HE Ferry de Kerck of Canada, HE Walter Howadt, Hans Shiebel and Gerd Kellerman of Austria, and friends of SOS in Britain and the United States of America as well as AJK Prime Minister Barrister Sultan Mehmood.