Karachi
In today’s world, NGOs play a significant role in developing society, improving communities, and promoting citizen participation. NGOs’ contribution to the GDP of the economy is not much, but their overall part in improving the human development index or social progression index is indisputable. They are playing an essential role in the construction of healthy and secure communities by providing their assistance and services, which leads to economic stability and mobility. One significant advantage of NGOs is that they work closely with the people on the ground. Whatever the problem, whether health, education, or an emergency, NGOs are present to provide relief to the people timely.
In a bid to honour NGOs for their contributions in different fields, K Electric (KE) launched KHI Awards in 2021 – an initiative endorsed by NEPRA and executed in collaboration with #IAmKarachi. This year the 2nd KHI Awards ceremony was held at Sindh Governor House, recently. The idea was to celebrate the untiring efforts of organisations serving Karachi through their social welfare contribution. 40 winners from across 13 diverse categories – from Heritage & Culture to Sports, Social Service to Safety, and more – were recognised for their efforts in driving societal change in Karachi. The chief guest of the event was Governor Sindh Imran Ismail, while Chairman NEPRA Tauseef H. Farooqi, and Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, Minister of State & Chairman of Board of Investment (BOI) were guests of honour.
While highlighting the importance of Karachi, Governor Sindh Imran Ismail stated that the Karachi’s dynamism is a key driver of national growth, and we must all play our role to continue enriching its vibrancy. “The federal government has taken series of initiatives for the overall development of the port city Karachi. Greenline BRT service is one of the initiatives,” he shared.
Appreciating the KHI Awards, he said that Karachi Awards has emerged as a perfect forum for encouragement for the organisations working to uplift the society at large. While lauding other initiatives of the power utility he pointed out, “Another project of K-Electric that needs to be encouraged is Roshni Baji, through which women are empowered by becoming safety ambassadors and going door to door for electrical safety awareness.”
Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, Minister of State & Chairman BOI, during his address at the event appreciated the company’s efforts as it honours those organisations which are playing a critical role in bringing betterment to the city and remain committed to making it more liveable and sustainable.
Chairman NEPRA Tauseef H. Farooqi congratulated the winners and also appreciated KE’s initiative. Addressing the audience, he said, “It is commendable to see that the company is finding innovative ways to take ownership of the communities it serves. We have to understand that creating meaningful relationships with customers and the environment is necessary to drive sustainable progress. This is why NEPRA introduced the ‘Power with Prosperity’ vision to galvanise the power sector, and we have seen sizable investment and job creation across Pakistan through CSR efforts.”
The 2nd edition of the awards saw hundreds of applications that were screened through an extensive and rigorous evaluation process. Led by Saad Amanullah Khan, an independent jury of 15 members, including notable names like Shehzad Roy, Sidra Iqbal, Jehan Ara, made sure to remain neutral while selecting the NGOs for award .EY Ford Rhodes Chartered Accountants, a member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited, served as the Official Award Auditors, oversaw the process and ensured impartiality.
Chief Executive Officer K-Electric Moonis Alvi was also elated at the occasion, stating, “For cities like Karachi, this is not a simple task and requires the contribution of hundreds of large and small organisations working around the clock. With the KHI Awards, we want to extend our support and create a platform that can lead the change in this megalopolis we call home.”
Famous Pakistani drama writer and lyricist, Anwar Maqsood also took the centre stage and enthralled the audience with his humour and wit. Shehzad Roy rocked the event by singing a song which was composed for and dedicated to the welfare organizations operating in Karachi.
Some of the winner organisations included SINA Health Education and Welfare Trust; Roshni Research and Development Welfare Organization; Kashf Foundation; The Citizens Foundation
Indus Resource Centre (IRC); Orange Tree Foundation; Pakistan National Academy of Performing Arts; Karwan e Hayat, Institute for Mental Health Care; Kiran Foundation and others.
– You! desk
