Emergency Appeal

<p>Alkhidmat Foundation is conducting an aptitude test for the Bano Qabil IT Program in Peshawar on July 6th, equipping KP youth with IT skills and knowledge. Over 1 lac youngsters will appear for the test, marking a significant milestone in IT education in the region.<br />
Bano Qabil offers a range of courses, including Office Automation, Art of crafting with AI, Graphic designing, Motion magic, Amazon, E-Commerce evolution, Sales and Lead generation, Digital marketing &amp; Freelancing , Mobile app development, Website development, AI with python, Cyber security fundamentals and Data Science with AI. Selected students will be interviewed and allocated centers for their classes based on their location.<br />
Bano Qabil Khyber Pakhtunkhwa&nbsp;aims to open doors for youth to excel in their careers and gain financial independence through IT skills, employment, and freelancing opportunities.Thousands of young IT aspirants have already benefited from Bano Qabil in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.<br />
Honorable Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, will address the youth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the occasion of Bano Qabil Aptitude Test on July 6th. Bano Qabil is set to revolutionize the IT landscape in Peshawar, empowering youth with skills and knowledge to succeed in their careers.</p>

Education

Alkhidmat KP will Conduct Aptitude Test for Bano Qabil IT Program on July 6

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">In the digital age, freedom of information and the right to access to this information has taken on new dimensions&mdash;both empowering citizens and creating complex challenges.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Artificial intelligence both enhances and complicates the freedom of information. While the internet offers powerful tools to access and share knowledge, it also presents new risks to privacy, accuracy, and equity. The challenge for societies is to harness digital advancements to strengthen democratic access to information while guarding against their misuse.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">On this World Press Freedom Day, Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan stands as a beacon of empowerment, illustrating how information and education can transform lives. Through its flagship &quot;Bano Qabil&quot; initiative, Alkhidmat is equipping Pakistan&#39;s youth with essential IT skills, fostering self-reliance, and contributing to the nation&#39;s digital future. &nbsp;</span></p>

<h1>Alkhidmat Commitments to Transparency</h1>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Alkhidmat Foundation maintains a strong commitment to transparency in its operations. The organization has been recognized for setting high standards of service and transparency during humanitarian efforts, including responses to natural disasters and public health crises. Additionally, Alkhidmat&#39;s privacy policy outlines how it collects and uses personal information, ensuring users&#39; data is handled responsibly.</span></p>

<h1>Alkhidmat Commitments to Digital Literacy</h1>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Alkhidmat Foundation actively empowers communities in Pakistan to utilize technology effectively, fostering transparency and informed decision-making. Through various initiatives, the organization provides digital literacy training, promotes ethical online practices, and ensures that technology serves as a tool for positive social change.</span></p>

<h2>Bridging the Digital Divide</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Bridging the digital divide is one of the most pressing challenges of the digital age, as it directly affects education, employment, healthcare access, civic participation, and economic growth. Alkhidmat&rsquo;s Bano Qabil Program provide affordable or free devices and internet access for low-income families and community-based training and education to build digital skills for all ages.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Through initiatives like &quot;Donate Your Skill,&quot; Alkhidmat connects skilled professionals with youth eager to learn, fostering a culture of mentorship and knowledge-sharing. This collaborative approach aims to equip students with essential skills for the future, including proficiency in artificial intelligence, web development, and creative fields like toon design and animation .</span></p>

<h2>Empowering Youth with IT Skills: Bano Qabil</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Launched in 2022, the Bano Qabil program has rapidly expanded across Pakistan, offering 100% free, certified IT courses in cities including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Swabi . The program aims to train one million young individuals over the next two years, providing them with skills in areas such as web development, digital marketing, graphic design, freelancing, and e-commerce.</span></p>

<h2>Impact of Alkhidmat&#39;s IT Training in the AI Era</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Alkhidmat Foundation&#39;s IT training initiatives, particularly the &quot;Bano Qabil&quot; program, have profoundly impacted numerous individuals across Pakistan, equipping them with vital digital skills and opening doors to sustainable employment.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Naveed Ali Baig attributes the success of the program to the &ldquo;vision of Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman,&rdquo; who wanted to equip youth with modern IT skills. Under his leadership, the Bano Qabil program launched &ldquo;Bano Qabil 4.0&rdquo; in 2024, which includes 40 modern courses and 30 training centers. More than 165,000 students have registered in the program, of whom more than 50,000 have completed the training.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">According to him, the Bano Qabil program is not only revolutionizing the education of the youth but is also bringing about a positive change in the country&rsquo;s economy, as the graduates are earning a global income through freelancing.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">IT skills empower individuals to become informed citizens and contribute to a more transparent and accountable society. By understanding how to access, evaluate, and share information using digital tools, people can actively participate in democratic processes, hold institutions accountable, and advocate for social change. Moreover, IT literacy helps combat misinformation, supports open communication, and fosters civic engagement in an increasingly digital world.&nbsp;</span></p>

How Alkhidmat is Empowering Futures with Digital Literacy on this World Press Day

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Labour Day&nbsp;&nbsp; 1<sup>st</sup> May 2025 showing International Solidarity with Labors, not to just support the workers&rsquo; rights with legal support to fair pay, but ensuring safe working condition treating with respect.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Democracy grows stronger as businesses expand, and society becomes more equitable when workers have the ability to better their own lives. NGOs assist workers in making their rights a reality in addition to advocating for them. They give employees the tools, training, and legal assistance they need to demand safe working conditions, fair compensation, and respectful treatment.&nbsp;</span></p>

<h1>How Islam Protects the Rights of labor</h1>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">To work, while trusting in Allah, to better one&rsquo;s condition, is an Islamic principle, and may even be considered an act of worship according to some hadith. Thus, it follows that justice towards the worker- one&rsquo;s employee or laborer, is a fardh (obligation) upon every Muslim.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Islam mandates that workers must be paid fairly and promptly. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:</span></p>

<div style="background:#eee;border:1px solid #ccc;padding:5px 10px;">&quot;Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.&quot; (Sunan Ibn Majah)</div>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">This hadith emphasizes timely and just payment, discouraging exploitation or delayed compensation.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The Prophet ﷺ said:</span></p>

<div style="background:#eee;border:1px solid #ccc;padding:5px 10px;">&ldquo;Your employees are your brothers. Allah has placed them under your authority. So, whoever has a brother under his authority, he should feed him from what he eats and dress him as he dresses. Do not burden them with what they cannot bear.&rdquo; (Bukhari and Muslim)</div>

<h1>What is Labor Day? Why we celebrate it?</h1>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a moment to acknowledge the accomplishments and challenges of the labor movement in promoting fair pay, safe workplaces, and the rights of workers. Labor Day is a holiday in the United States and Canada dedicated to recognizing workers and their contributions to society. The holiday is celebrated on the first Monday of September. However, the United States observed its first Labor Day on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City.</span></p>

<h2>Nationwide Holiday</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp;Common pattern for the celebration of holiday is observed with parades and parties &ndash; a street parade to exhibit &quot;the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations&quot; of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families.</span></p>

<h2>Where the idea of Labor Day does came from?</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America&#39;s strength, prosperity, and well-being.</span></p>

<h2>History of Labor Day</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">New York was the first state to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day, on February 21, 1887. During 1887, four more states &ndash; Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York &ndash; passed laws creating a Labor Day holiday. But Peter McGuire&#39;s place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that machinist Matthew Maguire, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday.</span></p>

<h2>When was 1st Labor Day Celebrated?</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.</span></p>

<h2>Labor Day in Pakistan</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">This year, Thursday 1st May 2025, Labor day will be observed by rallies, marches, processions, labor/worker union sessions and organized street demonstrations. There is a public holiday in Pakistan on May 1. All government and non-government organizations, factories and educational institutions remain closed. Public transport may be less frequent on certain routes.</span></p>

<h1>Labor Laws and Wage Regulations</h1>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">General employee rights facilitates worker on time payments and prohibits unauthorized deductions, to be provided with appropriate resources and equipment, to have safe working conditions, to receive the agreed remuneration on the agreed date and time.</span></p>

<h2>Labor Law in Pakistan</h2>

<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Labor law in Pakistan is broad and contains several ordinances, acts, rules and regulations and all other statutes relating to industrial, commercial and labor establishments.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Pakistan&rsquo;s first labor policy was devised in 1972, in which May 1 was declared an official holiday.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>Minimum Wage:</strong> The government sets a minimum wage applicable to all workers, ensuring they receive fair compensation for their labor. Payment of Wages: Wages must be paid regularly and on time, typically monthly. The Payment of Wages Act regulates these payments and prohibits unauthorized deductions. &nbsp;Workers organized strikes and unions to demand fair wages. This legacy reminds us that fair compensation isn&rsquo;t automatic; it often results from collective bargaining and continued advocacy. Today&rsquo;s conversations around living wages, pay equity, and minimum wage hikes are a continuation of those early struggles.</span></p>

<h1>What&rsquo;s the biggest problem in employee relations today?</h1>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The field of employee relations can provide a variety of difficulties.&nbsp; Three of these issues&mdash;performance management, pay disputes, and workplace discrimination&mdash;stand out as being especially difficult and complicated for HR practitioners to resolve.</span></p>

<h2>What Labor Day Teaches Us About Fair Pay and Respect</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Respect goes beyond politeness&mdash;it means being treated with dignity, and having a voice in decisions that affect one&rsquo;s livelihood. The labor movement helped establish the idea that every worker, no matter their job, deserves to be heard and valued. &nbsp;</span></p>

<hr />
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><q><span style="font-size:14px;">This isn&rsquo;t charity &ndash; it&rsquo;s a fight for fairness, and the stakes are real</span></q></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Trade unionists suffer death as well as violence and crackdowns. Legal aid is denied to working people, unions, and war zone veterans. Millions are left without hard-won labor protections to protect their rights. Working people, unions, and war zone veterans lose access to legal aid. Millions are left without hard-won labor protections to defend their rights. The mission of solidarity to workers is to stand with workers in the toughest conditions. Funding does not drive this, our mission does. And we won&rsquo;t back down.</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

Why Labor Day Is More Than a Day Off

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The borders are currently closed for sending aid into Gaza, but Alkhidmat Foundation is using supplies that were stored in Gaza before the borders closed. With the help of local Palestinian volunteers, Alkhidmat is distributing food and other essentials in Gaza.&nbsp;</span></p>

<h2>Four-Month Supply Stored in Gaza</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Before the ceasefire ended on March 18, 2025, Alkhidmat had already stored four months&#39; worth of supplies in Gaza, preparing for the risk that the borders might close again. Thanks to this, food is still being provided daily to around 3,000 Palestinian people.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Bank transfers to Palestine are still possible, so Alkhidmat is also sending money to local volunteers. They use it to buy supplies for Alkhidmat kitchens inside Gaza, where meals are prepared and distributed.&nbsp;</span></p>

<h2>Relief Operations from October 2023 to Ceasefire</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Since October 7, 2023, Alkhidmat Foundation has worked closely with the Government of Pakistan and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to send aid from Pakistan to Gaza. This included cargo planes and ships, and the transportation of relief goods through Egypt and Jordan. The aid was delivered into Gaza via the Rafah Border, and thousands of Palestinian families received it. All activities were recorded and shared through Alkhidmat&rsquo;s website and social media, and were officially recognized by the Pakistani embassies in Egypt and Jordan and the Government of Pakistan as well as NDMA.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">In addition to helping inside Gaza, Alkhidmat is also supporting Palestinian refugee families in Egypt through its warehouse in Cairo. Moreover, for students from Gaza who came to Pakistan to continue their education, Alkhidmat is providing housing, food, education, and other facilities.&nbsp;</span></p>

<h2>Relief and Rebuild Gaza Efforts During Ceasefire</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Right after October 7, 2023, Alkhidmat signed agreements with international partner organizations inside Gaza and NGOs in Egypt and Jordan to deliver food, medicines, and other aid. Thousands of tons of supplies were distributed. After the ceasefire on January 19, 2025, Alkhidmat launched a 15-billion-rupee &quot;Rebuild Gaza&quot; campaign. &quot;Rebuild Gaza&quot; included rebuilding destroyed homes, masajid, hospitals, and water projects in Gaza, and constructing a residential tower for Palestinian refugee families in Egypt, as well as supporting orphaned children. However, the &quot;Rebuild Gaza&quot; projects had to pause after the ceasefire ended on March 18, 2025.&nbsp;</span></p>

<h2>Alkhidmat&rsquo;s Commitments to Gaza</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Alkhidmat Foundation strongly wishes for a permanent ceasefire and lasting peace in Palestine. As soon as the borders reopen, Alkhidmat is ready to speed up the delivery of aid to Gaza. Meanwhile, with the help of local Palestinian volunteers and international partners, Alkhidmat continues to support families inside Gaza. Alkhidmat is still sending money via bank transfer in Palestine to keep the kitchens running and to distribute meals daily.&nbsp;</span></p>

<h2>Impact of your support &nbsp;</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">All of this has only been possible because of the continuous support and donations from generous people like you. Alkhidmat is deeply thankful to its international and Pakistani donors and supporters for helping deliver thousands of tons of aid to Gaza. We ask for your continued support to help reach thousands of Palestinian families, women, and innocent children with essential supplies every day.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><img alt="" src="https://alkhidmat.org/backend/images/region/blog/ckeditor-images/174591970268109ed69acc5.jpg" style="width: 185px; height: 185px;" /><img alt="" src="https://alkhidmat.org/backend/images/region/blog/ckeditor-images/174591976968109f19b31b5.jpg" style="width: 185px; height: 185px;" /><img alt="" src="https://alkhidmat.org/backend/images/region/blog/ckeditor-images/174591981068109f429ee99.jpg" style="width: 185px; height: 185px;" /><img alt="" src="https://alkhidmat.org/backend/images/region/blog/ckeditor-images/174591984768109f6765315.jpg" style="width: 185px; height: 185px;" /></p>

How is Alkhidmat managing to continue its operations in Gaza despite the current border closures?

<p><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Hundreds of marches, pickets and cleanup events are taking place across the country in the run up to earth day. Environmental groups set up resistance to the administration and its war on the planet.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">On this Earth&nbsp;Day 2025, Israeli forces continue bombarding Gaza, killing at least 18 Palestinians in pre-dawn strikes, including two women and two children in southern Khan Younis.&nbsp;the Muslim Ummah&#39;s response is deeply intertwined with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While global environmental movements observe the day to raise awareness about climate change, many Muslim communities are focusing on the immediate environmental devastation caused by the conflict.&nbsp;</span></p>

<h2>Gaza&rsquo;s Environmental Crisis Amid Conflict</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The war in Gaza has led to severe environmental degradation. Palestinian officials at COP29 in Baku highlighted the irony of advocating for climate protection globally while Gaza suffers from energy shortages, water contamination, and widespread destruction of infrastructure. These conditions exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, making it a pressing issue for the Ummah.</span></p>

<h2>Religious and Political Mobilization</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">In response, religious and political leaders across the Muslim world are uniting to address both the humanitarian and environmental impacts of the conflict. The Muslim World League has launched an urgent petition calling for a unified stance to establish peace and end the violence in Gaza. This initiative emphasizes the influential role of religious leaders in peacemaking efforts. ​</span></p>

<blockquote>
<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">In Pakistan, Jamaat-e-Islami organized a nationwide strike on April 26, 2025, to protest the ongoing violence in Gaza. The strike was a part of broader efforts to raise awareness and demand action from the international community. ​</span></p>
</blockquote>

<h1>Calls for Climate Justice</h1>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Organizations like Ummah for Earth are emphasizing the need for climate justice, particularly in regions affected by conflict. They advocate for a faith-based approach to the climate crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact on Muslim-majority regions and urging collective action to address environmental challenges.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Friends of the Earth is a global network of environmental organizations, and so we are standing in solidarity with siblings in Friends of the Earth Palestine (PENGON), a network of 15 environmental groups in Gaza and the West Bank.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Since October Israeli air strikes have damaged every one of PENGON offices in Gaza and totally destroyed most of their staff&rsquo;s homes. Islam Ali, one of their staff team, was killed by an Israeli air strike in October: she was sheltering in southern Gaza having already displaced from her home at the Al-Shati Refugee Camp. A further four PENGON staff in Gaza have since been killed by bombing.</span></p>

<p><img alt="" src="https://alkhidmat.org/backend/images/region/blog/ckeditor-images/17453191886807751435c0d.jpg" style="width: 400px; height: 267px;" /><img alt="" src="https://alkhidmat.org/backend/images/region/blog/ckeditor-images/1745318997680774553dbd7.webp" style="width: 400px; height: 269px;" /></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">&ldquo;Climate change is the leading cause of global displacement, these are connected issues as Trump is attacking migrants and the planet by aligning himself with big oil and eroding hard won protections.&rdquo; said Renata Pumarol, the deputy director of the Climate Organizing Hub, which coordinated the New York march. &ldquo;As we fight the authoritarianism of Trump, climate groups need to be part of the resistance because we are all under threat.&rdquo;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">This Year Earth Day which which includes climate education in schools and universities, beach-clean ups, and tree planting in the Pakistan and globally, is the 55th, but thanks to administration, it is like no other. &nbsp;</span></p>

<h1>🌿 Local and Global Actions</h1>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">In the United States, Earth Day 2025 has seen a surge in environmental activism. In Detroit, an urban forest of giant sequoia trees is being planted to improve air quality and engage local youth in environmental stewardship. Seattle is hosting events such as the Ladybug Festival and park clean-ups to promote biodiversity and community involvement., protests and demonstrations have been organized to advocate for stronger environmental additionally protections and climate justice.​ ​</span></p>

<h2>🌿 Alkhidmat Foundation: Tree Planting Campaigns</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Lahore marked the occasion of World Earth Day with a series of initiatives aimed at promoting environmental consciousness and sustainability. In line with the theme of the day, Alkhidmat orchestrated a tree planting campaign, distributed saplings, and endeavored to raise awareness regarding the pressing climate crisis.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The event saw enthusiastic participation from a diverse array of individuals, including young children, university students, members of civil society, and philanthropists, all coming together to contribute to the cause. Participants actively engaged in planting tree saplings, symbolizing their commitment to fostering a greener and healthier environment. &nbsp;</span></p>

<h2><input alt="" src="https://alkhidmat.org/backend/images/region/blog/ckeditor-images/174531829168077193ef5a4.jpg" style="width: 17px; height: 17px;" type="image" />&nbsp; Punjab: &ldquo;No to Plastic&rdquo; Campaign</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">In Punjab, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is spearheading the &quot;No to Plastic&quot; campaign. The campaign encourages citizens to reduce plastic usage and adopt eco-friendly alternatives. A significant step in this initiative is the upcoming ban on plastic bags, set to take effect on June 5, 2025. The government is also organizing educational workshops and awareness programs to inform the public about the environmental hazards associated with plastic pollution. ​</span></p>

<h2>🌿 Islamabad: Cleanup Drives and Tree Plantations</h2>

<p data-end="721" data-start="518"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">In Islamabad, volunteers from organizations like Friends of Margallah Hills National Park (FoMHNP) and the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) are conducting cleanup drives at Kinara Park, Rawal Lake. These efforts aim to combat plastic pollution and promote environmental stewardship. Additionally, the Green Pakistan Program Office is hosting a tree planting ceremony to celebrate Earth Day, emphasizing the importance of land restoration and biodiversity conservation. ​</span></p>

<h2>🚗 COMSATS: Launch of Electric Vehicle Project</h2>

<p data-end="945" data-start="780"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">COMSATS, in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and the National Plastics Action Partnership, is commemorating Earth Day by launching an Electric Vehicle (EV) project. This initiative aims to promote emission-free transportation and contribute to a cleaner environment in Pakistan. ​</span></p>

<h2>🌍 UNDP: Environmental Initiatives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan</h2>

<p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is celebrating Earth Day in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan through plantation drives, clean-up campaigns, and awareness sessions. These activities are part of the Scaling up of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods Risk Reduction project, aiming to enhance environmental resilience in northern Pakistan.</span></p>

<h2>🗓️ Looking Ahead</h2>

<p data-end="1355" data-start="1230"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">As Earth Day 2025 unfolds, various regions in Pakistan are engaging in activities such as tree planting, plastic waste management, and public education campaigns. These efforts reflect a collective commitment to environmental sustainability and the well-being of future generations.</span></p>

<h2>📚 Get Involved</h2>

<p data-end="957" data-start="872"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">You can participate in Earth Day 2025 by:​</span></p>

<ul>
	<li data-end="1000" data-start="959"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Pledging an Earth Action on social media</span></li>
	<li data-end="1042" data-start="1001"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Attending or organizing local events</span></li>
	<li data-end="1084" data-start="1043"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Integrating Earth Day lessons into educational curricula</span></li>
	<li data-end="1172" data-start="1085"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Supporting renewable energy initiatives​</span></li>
</ul>

<p data-end="1355" data-start="1230"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">As an organization, we are striving for a world where everyone enjoys a healthy environment and a fair share of the Earth&rsquo;s resources, including Palestinians.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>

“All Out on Earth Day”

<p><br />
<strong>آج، 21 اپریل، ہم اُس مردِ درویش کو یاد کر رہے ہیں جس نے سوئی ہوئی ملتِ اسلامیہ کو جگایا، خودی کا درس دیا، اور برصغیر کے مسلمانوں کو آزادی کا خواب دکھایا۔ شاعرِ مشرق، مفکرِ پاکستان، ڈاکٹر علامہ محمد اقبالؒ &mdash; جن کا صرف جسم مٹی میں اترا، لیکن فکر آج بھی زندہ ہے، روشن ہے، اور رہنمائی کر رہی ہے</strong></p>

<p><br />
اقبال کو فلسطین کے مسلمانوں سے گہری ہمدردی تھی، کیونکہ ان کا خیال تھا کہ اسلام تمام نسلوں، خطوں اور سرحدوں سے بالاتر ہے۔ اگرچہ ان کا انتقال 1938 میں ہوا اور اسرائیل 1948 میں بنا، اقبال مشرق وسطیٰ میں ہونے والی پیش رفت کو قریب سے دیکھ رہے تھے۔ مغربی ممالک ان تمام وعدوں کو پامال کرتے ہوئے فلسطین میں یہودیوں کو زمینیں دینے پر تلے ہوئے تھے جو انہوں نے مذاکرات کے دوران کیے تھے۔ چنانچہ بشیر احمد ڈار اپنے انوار اقبال میں لکھتے ہیں کہ 30 دسمبر 1919 کو لاہور کے مشہور موچی گیٹ کے باہر ایک عوامی جلسہ منعقد کیا گیا، اس موقع پر خطاب کرتے ہوئے اقبال نے ایک قرارداد پیش کی جس میں مطالبہ کیا گیا کہ برطانوی حکومت نے مشرق وسطیٰ میں مسلمانوں سے ان کے علاقوں کے حوالے سے جو وعدے کیے تھے انہیں پورا کیا جائے۔ انہوں نے زور دیا کہ کسی بھی مسلم سرزمین کا کوئی حصہ کسی دوسرے کے حوالے نہیں کیا جانا چاہیے ۔<br />
<br />
محمد حمزہ فاروقی نے اپنے ایک مضمون میں ذکر کیا ہے کہ علامہ اقبال نے 1931 کے آخری چند مہینوں میں لندن میں منعقدہ دوسری گول میز کانفرنس میں شرکت کی تاکہ ہندوستانی سیاست دانوں کے مطالبے کے مطابق وسیع تر خود مختاری کے لیے اصلاحات پر تبادلہ خیال کیا جا سکے۔ ان دنوں مطمر العالم الاسلامی یا ورلڈ مسلم کانگریس صیہونی خطرے پر بحث کے لیے ایک کانفرنس منعقد کر رہی تھی۔ لندن کانفرنس چھوڑ کر&nbsp;اقبال کانفرنس میں شرکت کے لیے یروشلم گئے۔اقبال نے دیگر کئی مواقع پر فلسطین کاز کی حمایت کی تھی۔ &nbsp;ان کا 7 اکتوبر 1937 کا خط جو محمد علی جناح کے نام لکھا گیا تھا، ایک مکمل چشم کشا ہے&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>&rsquo;&rsquo;فلسطین کا مسئلہ مسلمانوں کے ذہنوں کو بہت مشتعل کر رہا ہے۔ &hellip; مجھے اس میں کوئی شک نہیں کہ لیگ اس سوال پر ایک مضبوط قرارداد پاس کرے گی اور قائدین کی ایک نجی کانفرنس کا انعقاد کر کے اس پر ایکبڑی تعداد میں مثبت فیصلہ کرے گی۔ لیگ کو مقبول بنانا اور فلسطینی عربوں کی مدد کر سکتا ہوں، مجھے ذاتی طور پر اس معاملے پر جیل جانے میں کوئی اعتراض نہیں ہوگا جس سے اسلام اور ہندوستان دونوں&nbsp;متاثرہوں</p>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
<p>عظیم شاعر بیمار تھا اور چھ ماہ کے اندر فوت ہوگیا، لیکن فلسطین کاز کے لیے جیل جانے کے لیے تیار تھا</p>
</blockquote>

<p>&nbsp;اقبال کو اس بات کا شدید ادراک تھا کہ صیہونی تحریک، محض ایک سیاسی معاملہ نہیں بلکہ مسلمانوں کے مقدس مقامات، خاص طور پر مسجد اقصیٰ، پر ایک گہرا خطرہ ہے۔ انہوں نے 1930 کی دہائی میں ہی اس سازش&nbsp; کو بھانپ لیا تھا، جب مغربی طاقتیں فلسطین میں یہودیوں کو بسانے کی حمایت کر رہی تھیں۔ انہوں نے 1931 میں بیت المقدس میں ہونے والی عالمی اسلامی کانفرنس میں شرکت کی دعوت قبول کی اور وہاں اپنے خیالات کا اظہار کیا۔ ان کے خطاب میں مسلم امہ کے اتحاد، فلسطین کے تحفظ، اور اسلامی ورثے کی بقا پر زور دیا گیا۔ ان کا ماننا تھا کہ اگر فلسطین کے مسئلے کو سنجیدگی سے نہ لیا گیا تو یہ پورے عالم اسلام کے لیے خطرے کا باعث بنے گا</p>

<p>علامہ محمد اقبالنے صہیونی تحریک اور اس کے مقاصد پر تنقیدی نظر ڈالی۔ اقبال مغربی سامراجیت، استعمار اور استعماری قوتوں کے کھیلوں سے بخوبی واقف تھے۔ اُنہوں نے ہمیشہ فلسطین کے مظلوم مسلمانوں کی حمایت کی اور صہیونی منصوبوں کو خطرناک اور ظالمانہ سمجھااگرچہ علامہ اقبال نے صہیونیت پر براہِ راست بہت کم اشعار کہے، لیکن اُن کی نظم &quot;فلسطینی عرب سے خطاب&quot; اور دیگر اقوال میں فلسطین کے مسلمانوں&nbsp;کے ساتھ ہمدردی اور مغربی سامراج کی مخالفت&nbsp;واضح ہے۔</p>

<blockquote>
<p>ہےﺧﺎﮎ ﻓﻠﺴﻄﻴﮟ ﭘﮧ ﻳﮩﻮﺩﻱ ﮐﺎ ﺍﮔﺮ ﺣﻖ<br />
ﮨﺴﭙﺎﻧﻴﮧ ﭘﺮ ﺣﻖ ﻧﮩﻴﮟ ﮐﻴﻮﮞ ﺍﮨﻞ ﻋﺮﺏ&nbsp;ﮐﺎ</p>
</blockquote>

<p>عثمانی ترکوں نے اپنے دور حکومت میں یہودیوں کے ساتھ بہت زیادہ رواداری اور رواداری کا مظاہرہ کیا تھا۔ انہوں نے یہودیوں کو مغربی دیوار کے سامنے نماز پڑھنے کی اجازت دی، جو کہ یروشلم میں ڈوم آف راک&nbsp; کے قریب واقع ایک قدیم دیوار ہے اور مسلمانوں میں براق وال کے نام سے مشہور ہے۔ستمبر 1929 میں، اقبال نے انگریزوں کی یہودی نواز پالیسیوں پر تنقید کرتے ہوئے ایک تقریر کی اور کہا، جیسا کہ محمد رفیق افضل نے اپنی کتاب گفتارِ اقبال میں نقل کیا ہے، &quot;ترک یہودیوں کے ساتھ غیر معمولی رواداری کا مظاہرہ کرتے رہے ہیں، انہوں نے انہیں براق وال کے آنے سے پہلے رونے کی اجازت دی اور اس کے مطابق والِ شرعیہ کو کیوں جانا جاتا ہے۔ مسجد اقصیٰ کا پورا علاقہ &#39;وقف&#39; ہے (یا وقف) یہودی اس کے کنٹرول اور استعمال کا دعویٰ کرتے ہیں لیکن قانونی اور تاریخی طور پر ان کا اس پر کوئی حق نہیں ہے&lsquo;&lsquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>لیگ آف نیشنز کا ہیڈ کوارٹر جنیوا، سوئٹزرلینڈ میں تھا اور برطانوی یہودیوں کی حمایت کر رہے تھے۔ چنانچہ اقبال نے ضرب کلیم میں اپنی نظم فلستینی عرب سے ان کی طرف اشارہ کیا</p>

<blockquote>
<p>تیری دوا نہ جنیوا میں ہے نہ لندن میں<br />
&#39;فرنگ کی راگ جان پنجہ یہود میں ہے۔</p>
</blockquote>

<p>علامہ اقبال نے فلسطین کے مسئلے کو صرف ایک علاقائی یا قومی مسئلہ نہیں سمجھا بلکہ اسے اسلامی وحدت، امتِ مسلمہ کی بقا، اور استعمار کے خلاف ایک اجتماعی جدوجہد کے طور پر دیکھا۔ ان کی فکر میں فلسطین کا مسئلہ مغرب کی سامراجی قوتوں کی مسلم دنیا پر یلغار کا حصہ تھا، اور وہ مسلمانوں کو اس کے خلاف بیدار کرنا چاہتے تھے۔ علامہ اقبال کا مشہور قول: &quot;اگر مشرق میں کوئی اسلامی ریاست خطرے میں ہو تو پورے عالم اسلام کو اس کا دفاع کرنا چاہیے۔&quot; &nbsp;یہی بات آپ کے جملے کا مفہوم بھی ہے &mdash; کہ فلسطین کی جدوجہد، درحقیقت پوری امت کی جدوجہد ہے۔&nbsp;</p>