Aziz Memon conferred Pride of Performance award

Aziz Memon

By Mohammad Nazakat Ali

KARACHI: The President of Pakistan, Mr Asif Ali Zardari, has announced civil awards and conferred President's Award for Pride of Performance on Aziz Memon, Chairman Pakistan National Polio Plus Committee and Sitar-e Khidmat on Dr Robert S. Scott, Chairman Rotary International Polio Plus Committee and Chairman, the Rotary International.

The announcement was made by President Asif Zardari the other day when he formally launched the National Emergency Action Plan 2011 for Polio Eradication at the President House in Islamabad by administering polio drops to orphaned children from all the provinces vowing to eradicating polio from the country.

The President complimented the Ministry of Health, the provincial health departments, the Rotary International, the diplomatic community and international partner agencies in making the launch of this program possible and thanked them for their support in the fight against polio.

The President noted that Pakistan has come a long way from 1994, when the polio eradication campaign was first launched formally and the number of cases was more than 30,000.

"Our aim is to make Pakistan completely polio free. We aim that no child lives in the fear of being crippled for life," he observed.

The President said Polio was a crippling disease and continues to threaten opportunities for children. He said unfortunately Pakistan was among few countries which were still not completely polio free.

"We are committed to banish polio from Pakistan," the President said and pointed that the Polio Eradication Initiative was, first launched by the government of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

The President said the Lady Health Workers Programme and Polio Eradication Initiative were both launched by her government and added that it was intended to bring primary health care services to those that need them the most.

"It was a demonstration of her commitment to improving the social sector, particularly the health of children," the President said.

He said she was the first Prime Minister to have personally administered polio drops, to a Pakistani child. "That child was no less than our own daughter, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari," he added.

He said the government has nominated Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, as Pakistan's Ambassador for Polio Eradication and said she was committed to carry forward the mission of her great mother and hope for the people.

"Together she will work with you to end polio. Together we will end polio from the country," he said.

The President said the comprehensive plan for polio eradication, prepared by health managers and professionals was clear and doable, and called for addressing the issues of access, insecurity, accountability and ownership.

The President said that Pakistan needs to produce polio vaccines within the country and said that during his last visit to China the two countries signed an MOU on cooperation in manufacture of vaccines.

"Hopefully this cooperation will also be extended to manufacture of polio vaccines in Pakistan for nation wide anti polio programs.

The President recalled his meeting with Bill Gates, during his recent visit to the United States and said the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation were providing great support to the cause of polio eradication.

"I wish to acknowledge and appreciate the Gates Foundation's contribution to saving Pakistani children from polio," he lauded.

Rotary helps flood victims in Pakistan: Aziz Memon

By Mohammad Nazakat Ali

“From raising funds to distributing life-saving shelters, the Rotary clubs worldwide, together with the local clubs, are proactively assisting flood victims in Pakistan day and night to help those in need.”

This was observed by Mr Aziz Memon, Chairman, National Polio Committee, Rotary International, who has remained the Governor of the Rotary clubs in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the other day.

“The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, one of the largest humanitarian service organizations in the world, is accepting member contributions to its Pakistan Flooding Recovery Fund to support long-term recovery in the affected areas, which have sustained billions of dollars in damage according to the Pakistani government,” he disclosed.

“The Rotary clubs are also providing immediate humanitarian assistance to flood victims, which the United Nations estimates to be more than 17.2 million people. The Rotary members in both Pakistan and Afghanistan are working together besides facilitating the international clubs,” Mr Aziz Memon said.

“Among the first international relief to reach flood victims in Pakistan was ShelterBox. a UK-based disaster response organization supported by Rotary clubs worldwide. More than 1,900 ShelterBox tents and 600 ShelterBox kits, each containing a 10-person tent, a water purification system and other survival necessities for up to six months, were pre-positioned in Pakistan in June following predictions of a particularly bad monsoon season,” the Rotary official added.

In partnership with the French Embassy Islamabad and National Disaster Management Authority Pakistan, Rotary members distributed the ShelterBox kits to the hardest hit areas.

John Leach, ShelterBox Head of Operations, said: “The need for shelter in Pakistan is growing by the day. We need to get more aid in as quickly as possible. By working with our international partners we can make this happen.”

ShelterBox is sending 5,000 water filtration units and 2,500 water containers to flooded areas. More ShelterBox kits are due to arrive in Pakistan soon.

A Rotary club in Houston, Texas, USA, filled two 40-foot shipping containers with relief supplies, and is coordinating with Rotary clubs in Pakistan to deliver them to Karachi, where local clubs will help distribute the goods.

A Rotary club in Multan, Pakistan has established five flood relief camps at local hospitals. Rotary members are collecting tents, household items, food, and medicine.

Experts warn of a second wave of deaths from water-borne diseases such as cholera unless flood victims have access to supplies of fresh drinking water. World Water Works, a Rotary-club sponsored relief organization that provides disaster victims with water purification tools, has sent more than 600 boxes to the southern province of Sindh. Hugo Pike, chair of World Water Works and a member of the Rotary club in Avon, England, says each box contains a water purification kit that can supply each member of a family of four with about 2 quarts of drinking water every day for a year.

Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary’s global membership is approximately 1.2 million men and women who belong to more than 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.

AZIZ MEMON

Name : Aziz Memon

Education : B.Com. L.L.B., M.C.I.T. (London).

Honorary Consul General, Republic of Suriname.

Rotary International District Governor 2007 - 2008
(Dist. 3270 Pakistan & Afghanistan)

Justice of Peace

Commercial Engagements:
Chairman - Kings Group

Kings Apparel Industries (Pvt.) Ltd., is the leading exporters of Knitted Garments, received Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry trophy for 11 consecutive years for highest export.
Kings Textile Industries.

Franchisee of United Colors of Benetton

Chicco, Van Heusen, Peter England.
Ace Travels

Aviation and Travel Services, General Sales Agent of Air Macau, Air Mali & Surinam Airways.
Grand Builders and Developer

Property development (s).
Pacific Commodities

Dealing in various commodities.
MEDCO

Medical equipment distribution company
Pure Aqua Filtration

Water filtration equipment company
Chairman

Karachi Garment City Company Limited.
A project of Ministry of Textile Industry, Government of Pakistan.
Founder President

Pakistan-Japan Business Forum.
President

Pakistan-Italy Business Forum.
Member Board of Governors

Higher Education Support Foundation.
(University of Industrial & Production Management).
Former Chairman

Textile Quota Supervisory Council, Export Promotion Bureau.
Pakistan Knitwear and Sweaters Exporters Association.
Export Committee of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Citizen Police Liaison Committee.
Pakistan - U.S.A. Trade and Industry, Committee of Federation of Pakistan,
Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Former Director

Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Pakistan-UK Forum for Industry & Technology.
Former Member Managing Committee

Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Employer’s Federation of Pakistan.
Social Engagements:
Chairman

Cutchi Memon Markazi Jamaat.
Managing Trustee

Jahangir Khan Squash Foundation Trust.
Vice President, Karachi Boat Club.
Joint Secretary

United Memon Jamat of Pakistan.
Member

Royal Society of Asian Affairs, London.
Member

Board of Trustee Markaz-e-Nafsiyat.
Former Vice President

Cutchi Memon Jamat of Pakistan.
Former Member

Managing Committee Karachi Gymkhana.
Activities on International Forums :

Represented Pakistan at 33rd Congress of I. T. F. at Miami, Florida, U.S.A. in 1980. The convention was chaired by Mr. Jimmy Carter the then President of U.S.A.
Member of Pakistani delegation to Non-Aligned Summit at Havana, Cuba in the year 1981.
Represented Pakistan at Seminar for Small Scale Enterprises Development held in Taipei from 7th to 9th December, 1993.
Member of Pakistan Trade Delegation to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia from 2nd to 15th August, 1994.
Member of Pakistan Trade Delegation to South Korea and Hong Kong from 19th to 24th October, 1994.
Represented Pakistan at Asian Regional Workshop on policy environment for promoting small and micro enterprises in a period of economic liberalization - held at Bangkok, 15 – 17 February, 1995.
Member of Prime Minister’s entourage to Japan 19-22nd January,1996.
Represented Pakistan at Tripartite Economic summit at Khatmandu, Nepal 26-27 November, 1997.
Represented Pakistan at ILO Symposium on the Social and Labour Consequences of Technological Developments, Deregulation and Privatization of Transport - held at Geneva, 20-24 September,1999
Represented Pakistan at ILO Seminar on Labour Practices in Textile & Clothing Industries held at Geneva 16-20 October, 2000.
Represented Pakistan at Joint Meeting on the impact of Decentralization & Privatization, Geneva, 15 – 19 October, 2001
Accompanied Federal Minster for Commence & Industry to Washington, USA for Bilateral talks on Trade Access, 27 – 29 October, 2001.
As President of Pakistan Japan Business Forum accompanied President of Pakistan for joint meeting on Investment Promotion in Tokyo, Japan, 13 – 15 March, 2002.
Represented Pakistan at ITC Forum, Montreux, Switzerland, 25th – 29th September, 2002
Represented at ITC workshop in Geneva on “Strategy on Trade and the Environment” 18th June 2003
Represented Pakistan at ITC Forum, Cancun, Mexico, 6th – 9th, September, 2003.
Represented Pakistan at WTO 5th Ministerial Meeting in Cancun, Mexico 10th – 14th September, 2003.
Represented Pakistan at ITC Executive Forum, Montreux, Switzerland, 26th – 29th September, 2004
Accompanied Prime Minister Mr. Shoukat Aziz to Turkey and Lebanon May, 31st – June 03, 2005
Represented Pakistan at United Nations ESCAP Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2006 “Public-Private Partnerships for Development in Asia and the Pacific” Held at Jakarta Convention Centre, Jakarta, Indonesia 7-8 April 2006.
Besides from above also represented Pakistan on various international conventions and traveled widely.
Traveled extensively in all Six Continents.