How AKMHA copes with lock-down
AKMHA (All Karachi Marriage Halls Association), seeking ALLAH’S blessings on corona lock-down, endeavors to set a national model to cope with the moral and financial problems of its own family of workers through its very humble and instrumental role.
IMAGINE Karachi’s nearly 800 marriage halls with about 40,000 workers, daily wage earners and many others in subsidiary or supporting services. Connected with marriage halls are corona lock-down affected, afflicted, immobilized, procrastinated, in short, jobless, helpless folks.
Indeed they are being well-consoled and practically supported amid grace and dignity by the pioneering and altruistic role of Rana Raees Ahmed, President and Khawaja Tariq, General Secretary of the Karachi Marriage Halls Owners Association.
Directly this staff includes manager, office staff, guards, waiters, peons, cleaners, sweepers/ janitors, electricians and plumbers. Indirectly this staff includes photographers, video-makers, decorators and those from such services as rent-a-car, caterers, vendors in meat, vegetables and oil etc.
As part of corona care, Karachi Commissioner banned public gatherings like wedding events in the city through an administrative order.
That means complete ban on public gatherings: weddings, jalsas, urs, majalis, processions, ijtimaas, anniversaries, sports events, etc. As such, all meetings and functions at marriage halls and lawns cancelled.
See how would-be brides and bridegrooms uncertain of a dream- come-true-event, shadi hall workers fate hanging in balance and marriage venue owners in a lurch!
Heads down and palms up praying for ALLAH’S mercy, forgiveness and blessings is all humankind: men and women, young and old, rich and poor, just all.
Attribute our doctors, paramedical staff, philanthropists and institutions like SIUT, Indus, Edhi, Chipa and others to combat corona and commend men like Raees Ahmed and Khawaja Tariq of Karachi Marriage Hall Owners Association vying hearts out for lockdown affected and afflicted workers.
Whether voluntary cash or kind, including mobilizing of ration packs, the Association leaves no stone upturned in appealing to the well-to-do to extend moral and financial support to the thousands of Marriage Hall lock-down hit dignified workers and itself leads from the front in ameliorating financial sufferings of its own very closely-knit family and fraternity of Marriage Halls. The key to their mission of caring and sharing lies in exemplary self-help with unity, faith and discipline also awakening the opulent to help the gracious but less- privileged folks.
