Islamabad, 14 May 2022 (TDI): Pakistani activist, Tahera Hasan received the Commonwealth Points of Light Award for her efforts in promoting the well-being of abandoned, orphaned, and stateless children.
Congratulations to @taherahasan on winning the @PointsofLight award for her incredible work with the children & communities of Karachi’s Machar Colony. She is indeed a beacon of light for some of the most vulnerable people in 🇵🇰 https://t.co/1HmftEJAqK
— UKinPakistan🇬🇧🇵🇰 #UKPakEkSaath (@ukinpakistan) May 13, 2022
The British High Commission in Pakistan pointed out that the award is for Hassan’s incredible work with children and Karachi’s Machar Colony communities.
In addition, they congratulated her for being a beacon of light especially, for some of the vulnerable people in Pakistan.
Hasan’s work
The award is offered to outstanding individual volunteers who positively change their community.
Hassan has been a firm supporter of adoption and specializes in custody cases and family law.
The Imkan Welfare Organization runs a recreational center and shelter for abandoned and orphaned children.
It is in Karachi’s Machar Colony, a squatter settlement home to almost 700,000 people.
More to this, she set up a center for mother and child healthcare in Karachi Machar’s Colony.
Her help in the adoption of orphans and stateless children has helped in reducing child abandonment and infanticide.
Hassan appreciated her award and likewise said that children’s rights are a neglected subject.
“It is an honour and privilege to receive the Points of Light Award. It is a recognition for the work of all those involved on a day-to-day basis, highlighting and fighting for the rights of stateless and marginalised communities in Pakistan. The right to citizenship, identity and more specifically children’s rights, is a neglected subject. This award goes a step forward in bringing these issues to the forefront.,” said Hasan.
Furthermore, the UK’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Christian Turner stated, “Tahera is making a big impact on the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in Pakistan. This recognition of her work is a testimony to the long-standing and deep ties that UK, Pakistan and other Commonwealth nations share.”
