Prominent businessman, District Governor 2023-24 Rotary International District 3271, and Group Chief Executive of ‘The Perfect Express’, ‘Heavy Express Private Limited’, ‘Dan Roh’ Muhammad Hanif Khan has said that after assuming charge on July 1, he will try his best to ensure that Rotary International should not only be introduced to the public but also a good image should be presented. Efforts will be made to increase the number of existing members from 5 thousand to 10 thousand and every member should add one good member. The governor and president are elected three years in advance and both officials take charge after the completion of three years, he was talking exclusively interview with theazb.com.
He said that the Rotary International has done a lot of work all over the world. Funds are collected for welfare works in 216 countries of the world, 10% of the funds are collected locally and 90% of the project money is provided from the head office.
He said that the minimum cost of any project is 30 to 50 thousand dollars and the maximum project can be 5 Lakh dollars. He said that he has seen very difficult conditions in the flood-affected areas of Sindh and he has also seen such areas where it is extremely difficult to live.
He said that Rotary International first delivered rations to the people as a relief and later distributed prepared food among the people. The rehabilitation work has started. Rotary International will build houses for people in 200 villages by 2025. In this regard, 172 houses have been built in Ram Nagar village and these houses are designed in such a way that these houses will not be damaged by rain. He said that electricity is being provided to these houses through solar which have been built and local people have been made participants in the construction. On the one hand, people will get employment and on the other hand, they will be independent. He said that two women have received training from Britain for the kitchens that have been built in these houses. One woman can prepare 60 ounces. He said that there are health and education units in Ram Nagar village, and 60 children can get an education in one education. These villages will also be established in other districts of Sindh, Tando Allahyar, Badin, and other districts. The Rotary Club will also set up medical camps in these areas. To a question, he said that there was no district secretariat of Rotary International Sindh and Balochistan. To highlight the work of Rotary International, a team of 4 people has been formed to highlight the project on social media. He said that a Rotary Club has also been established at the University of Agriculture. Earlier there were two clubs in Balochistan. whose number has now reached 10? He said that Rotarians provide land to establish the village. Earlier, the people who were given the house rented out the house, but now we enter into a contract with the people before providing the house, which includes that the house is given to you to live in and you cannot give this house to anyone. We have contacted the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and vacated the houses that people had rented. He said that we are also setting up old age homes and hospitals in Nazimabad. While in Gadap and Memon Goth, 50 lahks to 60 lakh rupees have been installed per solar plant. Now their number is 18 and this number will increase to 50.
He said that 2 lakh saplings have also been planted. Apart from this, many parks have been adopted at the UC level, and development works have been done in them. He said that they are also working on the Safe City project to prevent street crime in the city. CCTV cameras have been installed in the central district. Ali Haider CPN and ex-president of Rotary Club Karachi of Nexus and his team will install 200 cameras from District South Defense Phase 1 to Qayyumabad. He said that the city currently needs more than 2 lakh cameras. To a question, he said that we are also forming a legal team that will release people involved in petty crimes who have been fined between 5,000 to 10,000 and are in jail. He said that I have traveled all over the world, no country can give government jobs to everyone, and police and army employees are given government land. That is why we are bringing such a plan concerning employment. By which people focus on trade instead of jobs. They will provide IT training to 60 thousand people by signing a contract with Pakistan Freelancers Association. Traders have an important role in the development of the country and the country develops only through trade. He said that 70 percent of our members are businessmen and 30 percent are related to other people.
On a question about the budget, he said that it is expected that people will get relief in the upcoming budget. The problems are increasing due to the daily increase in the value of the dollar. If the value of the dollar is frozen for 6 months, it will have a good impact on the economy. He said that Ishaq Dar has made it clear that the value of the dollar is being increased artificially and the dollar will come to Rs 240. If this happens then it is good, otherwise, our country has a tradition that the value of nothing goes up or down. Those who are involved in the smuggling of bank dollars or those who are doing money laundering should be taken immediately. Such people do not deserve any concession who are harming the country’s economy.
On the question of the country being a defaulter, Muhammad Hanif Khan said that Sri Lanka is on the path of development after 6 months of default. Colombo is one of the developed cities. Today, China has taken over control of the Sri Lankan port, due to which the situation there has improved.
On the question of increasing load shedding and prices of electricity, Muhammad Hanif Khan said that the Korangi Industrial Area and Site Association has requested the Sindh government to allow us to set up power plants in the industrial zone. If a power plant will be installed in every district of Karachi, then not only electricity will be cheaper, but there will be additional electricity as well.
On the question of renewing the license of K Electric by NEPRA, he said that there should be an open bid in this regard. So that more companies exist and people get affordable electricity.
On the question of privatization of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, Muhammad Hanif Khan said that talks have been held with the World Bank about privatization. If citizens get water as per their requirement after privatization, he said that we are trying hard to establish a police-free society through the platform of Rotary. He said that even before becoming the district governor, he has been working for the welfare of the Rotary Club from the platform and now after becoming the district governor, a heavy responsibility has come which he should fulfill with all the clubs.
He said that by becoming a Rotary District Secret, all the clubs and members will be able to hold important meetings related to welfare projects easily and they will be able to express their ideas to other members for solving the problems faced in social and welfare projects and completing new projects. He said that by increasing the number of new members in various clubs of Rotary, the scope of social services will be expanded. He said that Rotary as an organization has been dedicated to serving humanity through service projects and social sector contributions for more than 100 years. With a base of 1.4 million Rotarians and Rotaractors, Rotary is the world’s largest humanitarian service organization with a presence in more than 200 countries. Rotary International launched the global fight against polio in 1988 through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). Polio used to paralyze more than 350,000 children worldwide annually. Today, the global incidence of polio has been reduced by more than 99 percent. This achievement was made possible by a global investment of US$11 billion, which helped vaccinate more than 2.5 billion children in 200 countries. Polio Eradication Initiative in Pakistan was started in 1994. The program is run by 339,000 trained polio vaccinators who work tirelessly to realize the dream of a polio-free Pakistan. Rotary International has invested US$ 400 million to eradicate polio in Pakistan.
