Three children off to India today for heart surgery Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: "I could not even imagine that my five-year-child, who has a hole in the heart, will have free heart surgery. But 'Aman Ki Asha' has made it possible and I am really thankful for the gesture of friendship between Pakistan and India."

These views were expressed by Ghulam Hussain, a resident of Bhangwar, district Nawabshah, Sindh, on his arrival in the provincial metropolis on Tuesday. He is one of three people from Sindh who will leave for India on Wednesday (today) for treatment of their children.

The free treatment will be a result of concerted effort of "Aman Ki Asha", a peace initiative of Jang Group of Newspapers Pakistan and Times of India Group, India, Rotary India Humanity Foundation (RIHF) and Rotary Pakistan.

Besides Aakash, son of Ghulam Hussain, five-year-old Atif, son of Abdullah, and three-year-old Dharti, daughter of Prakash, will also undergo heart surgery at the Mission Hospital, Durgapur, West Bengal, under the "Heart to Heart" initiative of "Aman Ki Asha."

In February this year, "Aman Ki Asha" had signed an agreement with the Rotary India Humanity Foundation and Rotary Pakistan to provide free heart treatment, including surgery, to 200 under-privileged Pakistani children under the "Heart to Heart" initiative and so far 25 children have undergone heart surgeries. Ghulam Hussain is a rickshaw driver of Bhangwar of Sindh and comes from a poor background. He appreciated the "Heart to Heart" initiative, saying the programme was a ray of hope for people who could not afford expensive treatment for their children suffering from heart problems.

Abdullah, who is a farmer of Dorre, district Nawabshah, said he could not afford heart surgery of his son and was very upset but "Aman ki Asha" emerged as a ray of hope. I am thankful to Jang/Geo Group, Rotary Pakistan and friends in India for the favour.

Dharti's father Prakash, who belongs to Umerkot, Sindh, and works at a small medical store, was also all praise for the "Heart to Heart" programme and said the peace initiative should be advanced to promote friendly relations between both countries and their peoples.

All the three also shared grief over devastation caused by floods in Sindh and said they had caused huge losses in terms of damage to crops bedside displacing thousands of people including their own family members.

Major (r) Mujib Aftab of Rotary Pakistan, who has been coordinating the stay of these people in Lahore and their subsequent departure to India, also lauded the peace initiative. "We are neighbours and peaceful co-existence is better," he said while commenting over India-Pakistan relations. Mujib, who is also chairman of "Gift of Life", said there was also a need to promote student exchange between both countries by organising declamation contests.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

AMAN KE BADHTE QADAM: A peace march...and joint flood relief efforts Indian and Pakistani activists participating in a joint peace march used the opportunity to raise funds for flood victims in Pakistan

By Sandeep Pandeymore