The news
Our trustees were thrilled to attend the groundbreaking ceremony in Mehran Town, Karachia, Pakistan, for the new Centre of Empowerment and Excellence, a transformative initiative with our flagship partner, the Fahmida Begum Foundation, earlier this month.
Our Chair Haroon was joined by trustees Saba, Rukhsana and lead trustee for Pakistan Hamza on this landmark occasion. Welcomed by a retired military band of bagpipers, in memory of their late patriarch, Sheikh Abdul Rashid’s, fondness of such music, the audience included the FBF management team, architect, builders, beneficiaries and Director for COSARAF Foundation, Tashmina.
Haroon provided some poignant words at the ceremony and shared his high hopes for the impact of the centre, in improving the lives of the needy local community.
This state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facility is set to serve over 300,000 residents in Mehran Town, providing vital services under one roof. Spread across a 40,000-square-foot area, the Centre will house a purpose-built school, a full-service health clinic, a SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) center, vocational training facilities, and programs to empower women and youth through skill development and microfinance support.
The building design, created by renowned architect Asad I.A. Khan, integrates sustainable features like solar panels and eco-friendly materials, ensuring a model of environmental stewardship alongside community empowerment.
This project represents a bold step toward uplifting marginalised communities by addressing critical needs in education, health, and economic resilience. We look forward to seeing the incredible impact this Centre will have on generations to come.
