LAHORE - Punjab Governor Ch Sarwar Sunday laid the foundation stone of a charitable school in memory of former caretaker prime minister (late) Malik Meraj Khalid here in Burki village.
Malik Meraj Khalid (1916-2003) also served as federal law minister and speaker National Assembly. He was a lawyer by profession and a left-wing politician, who dedicated his life to the service of the needy, destitute and the poor in his area, Burki.
The Meraj Khalid Akhwan High School will be built with an estimated cost of Rs250 million that would be raised through donations from philanthropists and charitable organisations including the initial donation of Rs50 million from the Friends of Lahore organisation.
Sarwar Foundation Chairperson Perveen Sarwar, wife of Ch Sarwar, announced to bear all expenses of a technical education block, to be built at the school for girls.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Ch Sarwar expressed his desire to establish Malik Meraj Khalid University in the area, adding that Meraj Khalid was a social worker par excellence. He said people lived in the hearts of masses for their humanitarian works and not for their riches and wealth.
Ch Sarwar hailed the philanthropists and social workers who had raised the money for various education and health sector projects in the province, adding that members of the Friends of Lahore had always came forward for charitable works. The governor said that he would continue Malik Meraj Khalid’s mission and the laying of the foundation stone of Malik Meraj Khalid School was a step towards it. He added that the facilities being provided in the school would be at par with the facilities provided in other top charitable educational institutions.
The Punjab governor said that he believed in serving the humanity, adding that he had established two charitable hospitals and schools in his hometown, Toba Tek Singh. He said the Sarwar Foundation was also providing safe drinking water to millions of people daily.
Philanthropists and businessmen including Gohar Ijaz, Mian Talat, Anwar A Ghani, Chairman Akhuwat Foundation Dr Amjad Saqib, President Anjuman-e-Ikhwan-e-Islam Rana Mansha, SVP Ch Shafaat Hussain, Usman Hamza and others were present on the occasion.