Kind people are the best kind of people and Fadia Kashif is one of them. An extremely compassionate soul, she is the CEO of TZP trust and undoubtedly among those few who are specially picked by Almighty, for the task of healing the world.
Although, she belongs to an influential family, which has been known for playing significant role in socio-political scene of the city of saints. Her late father, Mr. Mukhtar A. Sheikh was a renowned industrialist and her mother, Mrs. Farrukh Mukhtar is former politician and patronizes several organizations in Multan. Her husband, whom Fadia considers backbone of all TZP projects, Mr. Kashif Riaz Ahmad is also an industrialist and owner of Sunrays textile mills. Yet, Fadia's interests lied in the service of God, a path less trodden by privileged like her and that too at such a tender age.
When her age fellows were busy attending fashion shows, having fun kitty parties and socializing, she preferred to dedicate herself to God and preaching of Islamic values and religion. She remained associated with, spreading the message of Islam and Quran. Nothing held her attention, not even philanthropic work being carried out by her family, but only the love of Allah.
15 years ago, Fadia ventured into the world of serving humanity, only for the purpose of pleasing God. She started with Children's hospital (which is a govt property in Multan). There was no boundary wall to demarcate its surroundings. With the support of her husband and family, she got a beautiful wall constructed all around it. Provided coolers, air-conditioners, LEDs and social help for this hospital. Also discovered, every type of patient needed food. Children were malnutritioned. They started not only provision of ordinary meals, but also Keto food for the benefit of children's health. Farah Naz, who works in the hospital from 2005 as social welfare officers tells. Although, it is a govt hospital, yet sometimes there is shortage of basic necessities, like services, staff, equipment. TZP and Fadia provided hearing aids for children. Whatever facility the hospital lacked, they were there to cover it.
Wherever Fadia and TZP team went, they found shortage of services, due to lack of manpower and funds. Fazl e Rabi by TZP was set up for the purpose. Headed by Madam Razia, it consists of 18 members serving at children's hospital and Nishtar hospital. This team goes to each patient and helps resolve their problems. They serve as, ward helpers, hygiene counselors, dietitians, psychologists and maids etc. Though, they serve there but they are salaried by TZP. They provide financial assistance, medicines, help patients with lab tests, counsel, food and clothes.
In 2016, Fadia stumbled upon a slum area near her children's school and was greatly disturbed by unhygienic and filthy ways of living of underprivileged nomads. Instead of feeling disgusted, she felt compelled to help them. She learned, they lived without electricity, their children suffered from skin infections during summer and died of cold in winters. This really touched her heart and moved her soul. Thus, began the journey of TZP trust in its formal form. One thing lead to another and TZP started to have offshoots.
She decided to lift their lives by educating them. When she expressed her intentions to dwellers of that slum area, they looked at her with disbelief and told her, many NGOs and social workers visit them, take pictures, make promises, either never to return again or make a little difference. She asked, if they would allow her to educate their children. They considered it a mockery of their poverty and dismissed it as a cruel joke. This, actually motivated her to stick to her commitment and she returned in no time to fulfill her promise.
She brought them clothes to wear, food to eat, with ice-cream, toys and books. She could see the spark of hope and joy in their eyes. She wanted this trust to build. So, instead of taking their children elsewhere, offered them to teach them, right there in slum area and it automatically started the process of cleanliness and hygiene awareness in them. When those nomads cleared out and cleaned some area within slums for Fadia to start TZP school, a project later lead by madam Zahida and named as 'Taleem sab k liey'. Looking at the capabilities of these children, Fadia decided to send them to proper school and today, children of these people are studying in 'Army Aviation School Multan'.
Fadia observed, these women begged on streets all day or picked garbage for a living. Nobody trusted or owned them to give them jobs. She also noticed, some of them were fabulous artisans. They could make traditional toys and could stitch mosaic blankets, crochets, etc, with great expertise. Fadia decided to put their talent to use, helping them polish their skills to acquire financial sustenance. This is how, Ruddad came into being. A small business venture, which has employed 11 women, who are paid on monthly basis and given materials to create handicrafts, which are sold in the markets and exhibitions and the earnings are utilized for uplifting their lives.
An incredibly great contribution by TZP for these nomads, is building 31 houses in Basti Khudadaad. These gypsies, who had no place to live. Today, they have roof over their heads. They have toilets at their places and are no longer worried about shelters during rain or storm. These houses are called 'Darul-sakoon', which means a 'peaceful dwelling' and is true in their case, as these poor souls have finally found a better and peaceful living, after a life of floundering from place to place.
Dastarkhwan by TZP is another of its offshoots and is lead by Madam Khadija. As mentioned earlier, needy and underprivileged people needed food everywhere, TZP team reached to offer its services. So, it was given a formal shape and serving started from April 2016 by contributing lunch in Children's Hospital, but later it was revealed, another charity organization was taking care of it. They took this initiative to cater 'Cardiology Hospital' as there was an unavailability of free breakfast, lunch or dinner for the patients or their attendants there. Dastarkhwan is committed to this cause. Along with providing food to 'old home' and 'special meals' like 'keto food' in 'Mal Nutrition' and 'Oncology' wards in Children's Hospital. It also serves lunch boxes in two special Schools, PDC and MDC (Shadaab School of special kids).
It will be unfair, not to mention that Fadia has done all this, as a service to God. Each project of TZP, begins and ends in the name of Allah. With all the services, education and food, TZP spreads the message of Quran and Islam. Special emphasis is laid on Islamic teachings and values. Even hygiene is taught as an essential part of Islam, according to the teachings of Allah and holy prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Fadia acknowledges and honors the dedication of her TZP team. Specially admires the efforts of coordinator, Mr. Ehteshaam, who takes care of the elderly in the old house and handles all the requirements with vigilance and great care. She compliments, Mr. Ahsan also shows complete dedication to the cause. Not just these two, but Fadia is full of praise for all the people in TZP team. She remains thankful to all TZP members, the generous philanthropists and sponsors who are a constant source of moral and financial support for the cause, without them, all this was impossible to achieve.
Also she can never thank enough for complete support of her husband Mr. Kashif Sheikh, all her family, alongwith her daughters. Her daughters named this organization as 'taaray zameen par' that TZP is an abbreviation of. From the beginning, they have remained at the side of their mother to help manage everything. From charity to food packaging, from teaching to story telling. Her daughters contribute in every possible way. Fadia believes, it is a special gift of God for her that she has been able to transfer this compassion of serving humanity to her children, which is even bigger a legacy or inheritance, than wealth of any kind.
As it is said “He who wished to secure the good of others, has already secured his own.” God has truly blessed Fadia and all those in TZP team. A man's true wealth hereafter is the good that he does in this world to his fellows.Their efforts are improving lives of these slum dwellers in this world and are a promise to be rewarded hereafter. Well done Fadia and TZP team. Carry on the good work.
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| TZP, keeping the flag high |
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| Inaguration of 31 houses for slum people in Basti Khudaad by TZP |
Education at slums
Ruddad creations
The slum children in Army aviation school
Food at Children's hospital
Food at old house
Dastarkhwan serving food in Children's hospital, old house and slum area
Construction of 31 houses for nomads in Basti Khudaad by TZP and its news
Fadia among special children
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| TZP brochure |
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