Holding A Feeble Child's Hand As Volunteer Makes You Strong: Zartaj Gul

State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Wednesday said holding a feeble child's hand to support him makes a person strong as volunteer to build a resilient society.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Dec, 2018 ) :State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Wednesday said holding a feeble child's hand to support him makes a person strong as volunteer to build a resilient society. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the International Volunteer Day under the auspices of Youth Kashmir Forum (YKF), she said, "I started my struggle as an Insafian volunteer at Shaukat Khanam Memorial Hospital (SKMH) and it unveiled a new strength in my personality and it became the only inspiration for me to continue my journey as a volunteer." The State Minister said most of the Cancer patients at that time brought to SKMH were hailing from interior Sindh and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and were generally had a very humble background. "I am working on a survey with my ministry to discover the fact that why every third cancer patient belongs to interior Sindh and FATA," she added.

She remarked that the death penalty for 3,000 deaths in 9/11 attacks in New York was paid by 70,000 innocent martyrs of the tribal areas of the country with billions of Dollars loss in terms of infrastructure damage in the war against terror. The sacrifices are the maximum after the World War II, she added.

"The sacrifices rendered by the Kashmiris for freedom are huge and it is quite motivating to know that every Kashmiri martyr desires to be shrouded in Pakistani flag. Kashmir belongs to us and with the firm resolve and brave leadership we will succeed in our aim to liberate Kashmir," she maintained.

Zartaj Gul said that a volunteer merely gets a meal in reward for his service as a unpaid helper but its only the volunteers who build every society after every conflict either its war or any natural and manmade disasters. "Being the best of all creations as human beings we also have to pay back for it and becoming a volunteer serves this cause," she said.

A volunteer serves without any discrimination and personal bias for the cause of humanity, she added.

Director of United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Pakistan, Vlatismil Samek appreciated the efforts of YKF presented the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' message on the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development, he quoted the message as, "There are approximately 1 billion volunteers across the globe, who dedicate their time, skills and passion to make the world a better place.They are often the first to act in moments of crisis. They create social bonds and give a voice to marginalized and vulnerable groups. And as the theme of this year's observance highlights, they help build resilient communities, equipping people against natural disasters, political instability, economic shocks and other pressures." "In Malawi, United Nations volunteers have worked as interpreters, connecting refugees to institutions that provide assistance.In Sri Lanka, they have helped develop a project to empower women and youth to participate in peace building efforts.In Tuvalu, United Nations volunteers have collaborated with the Ministry of Health to strengthen community safeguards against tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS," the message added.

"The diverse and dynamic role of volunteerism in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals merits strong support from Governments and other stakeholders.� On this International Day, I thank volunteers for their efforts to leave no one behind," the message said.

Executive Director YKF, Ahmed Qureshi appreciated the Zartaj Gul's firm determination and devotion to serve humanity with the position of volunteerism. He along with the Minister distributed the certificates among many volunteers working in different walks of life.