The 24th March, 2012, a day which was long awaited and we all the teammates were quite tensed until the official launch of our project called “The One Rupee Project – TORP”, a project to make “Khudmukhtaar Pakistan” finally took place.
The event was held at T2F with a great support of all our friends, colleagues, family members, supporters and followers. Our special thanks goes to Radio 1 FM91, for their support in organizing the Launch meetup. We’re highly indebted to PeaceNiche (T2F) for their support for the cause of making Pakistan self-sustainable. We are also grateful to Djuice Pakistan who became the 1st Corporate supporter of TORP.
Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Almighty Allah, the event went successful and the entire team of TORP was overwhelmed by the phenomenal response from the participants.
My purpose of posting this blog is just to let people of Pakistan know what people are talking about this project. Hence, here I will be reproducing the testimonials, comments and feedback from all our supporters, members, well wishers and off course the critics.
Below is a worth mentioning write up by Mr. Ali Rahman about the Launch event. Here it goes:
The name, “One Rupee Project”, being quite appealing, made it simply irresistible as I came across it initially on Dr. Awab Alvi’s facebook page and twitter. The project, from whatever was shared of it initially, seemed to be a very simple initiative and was able to capture my attention. One Rupee?, I thought to myself, and thought how it is not a problem for many others. An almost immediate virtual calculator was turned on and I concluded within myself how easily this One Rupee can be millions and billions.
The desire to learn more about the project kicked in and I got to the initiators of the “One Rupee Project”. The Tremendous Trio as I would like to refer to them, Sarfaraz Khan, Abdul Hameed Kath and Sarosh Waiz. Initial contact was established with Mr. Sarfaraz Khan through twitter which got on to personal email correspondence. At this time, I must extend my gratitude towards his humble replies to my incessant questioning. The more I communicated, the more I thought, how doable, how easy, how simple, yet how magnificent this can be.
I then learnt about the launch event which took place a little while back (March 24, 2012 1600 hrs) at T2F (The Second Floor), DHA Phase 2 Extension, Karachi. I, along with my brother and a friend, made it a point that we all be present at the event to gather as much information as possible in order to be able to tell more and more people about it. The event started quite aptly started with Mehdi Maloof’s 1947 which set the much desired focus and direction towards what the “One Rupee Project” aims to achieve. A detailed presentation on the overall concept was conducted by Sarosh Waiz, a young man whose passion about the project was evident even when he was silent.
In a nutshell, the project aims at raising funds and channelizing these funds towards the areas which, otherwise may be state responsibility. A few areas highlighted include education, vocational training, poverty alleviation, all this to an eventual self sustaining, self relying nation at an individual level. From what I understood, the main objective of the program is capacity building which can be related to an old adage “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”. This project certainly aims at “teaching people how to fish”.
It was heart-warming to learn the pledges already made by Dr. Awab (Awab Dental Clinic) and a few others. From the perspective of a common man, I salute FM 91 and Djuice for recognizing the potential of this project and sponsoring the launch event. Presence of Faisal Kapadia (award winner Azmeaalishan 2012 for his selfless services) was also much more than pleasant.
What this means to me? Well the answer is very simple. I have spent many hours discussing issues with my brother, my wife, my friends on what or how wrong things are in my part of the world and in our dear Pakistan. Being a banker by profession, somehow, as much as I desired, it was always difficult to come together and do something concrete, to add value, or to do something about all the problems and issues that I spend hours, just discussing. “One Rupee Project” has given me a very easy solution. From now on, I don’t have to spend time complaining or discussing the issues. I have found a forum which I can be a part of by paying just “One Rupee” a day and be a part of the much needed change. I take it as a responsibility to talk about this initiative to people, to spread the word, to make sure that people become a part of it.
The project is in a nascent stage at this time. However, from the charge and passion which was witnessed in the hall of T2F today, it can be safely said that this humble beginning can and will end up in pure magnificence. It will provide that much needed impetus needed for overall amelioration. The reasons why I have such strong belief in this project are: 1) In that hall at T2F, I met with Pakistanis, not Sindhis, Punjabis, Mohajirs, Balochis or Pakhtoons, just Pakistanis. 2) It is of utmost convenience to be a part of this at just “One Rupee” per day. Therefore, I expect it, hope and pray for it to grow to monumental levels. Anyone and everyone can and should be a part of this.
Undoubtedly, a great beginning! All the best to the “One Rupee project”.
Hasti ke is saraab mein, raat ki raat bas rahi
Subh e adam hua numoon, paun utha jo ho so ho
Let us all make this happen, because together we can and we will!
Ali Rahman
Email: ali.sher.rahman@gmail.com
Twitter: @Baahirezaman
Facebook: https://facebook.com/ali.sher.rahman
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