Saifullah Foundation for Sustainable Development

Saifullah Foundation for Sustainable Development (SFSD) was established in 2002 as an independent non-political, non-profit NGO under the NWFP Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies Ordinance.

Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan, the founding Chairperson of the Saif Group, is the inspiration behind SFSD. One of Pakistan’s pre-eminent social activists and campaigners, Begum Sahiba deeply felt the need for bridging the gap between the less developed rural districts of the NWFP and the mainstream economy and society, through the provision of educational and health facilities and access to economic opportunities.

SFSD guided by Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan’s vision is developing programs targeting a transformation in:

• The delivery of rural primary health care,
• The provision of clean drinking water,
• Water for irrigation,
• Access to vocational and technical training for the unemployed,
• Promotion of sports and healthy leisure activities and
• A public awareness community radio station (FM 88)

Rural Primary Health Care

At the Women & Children Hospital in Ghaznikhel, the SFSD maternal and infant health program has successfully treated over 2000 out-patients and more than 50 in-patients annually.

Moreover, the community outreach medical and public health program has improved the lives of countless families through the adoption of preventive health measures.

In 2003, SFSD took over an unutilized hospital building on lease from the Lakki Marwat District Government to set up the Women & Children Hospital (WCH) at Ghazni Khel. In addition to the generous support of Mr. Javed Saifullah Khan and the Saif Group, SFSD received substantial help and support from Lucky Cement Ltd and the Trust for Voluntary Organizations (TVO) Islamabad.

The Hospital became fully functional in the second half of 2004. Since then WCH has a full time (in-residence) male and female doctor along with essential support and nursing staff.

SFSD also arranged for the donation of an Ambulance and an Ultra Sound facility for the WCH. In addition SFSD arranged for the Lady Doctor at WCH to receive specialized training at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Islamabad) in using the Ultra Sound equipment.

The Hospital has 8 equipped hospital rooms with 16 beds for in-patients, a well-equipped diagnostic laboratory, delivery room, pharmacy and a standby generator to overcome frequent power outages.

The Family Planning Clinic at the WCH has provided medical assistance to over 1000 women annually and arranged periodical immunization service with the help of Health Department.

In addition to this, SFSD also been arranging 4 Free Medical Camps annually where 1500 patients were provided free medical treatment by doctors from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences under the leadership of Professor Dr. Iqbal Saifullah Khan (FRCP, DABIM, MBBS).

Dr. Iqbal Saifullah Khan is the Professor of Cardiology at the Quaid I Azam Post Graduate Medical College (QPGMC) and the Head of Cardiology at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) – Islamabad. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh – UK), Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and Diplomate in Cardiovascular Disease.

Clean Drinking Water

Since its establishment, SFSD has provided clean drinking water facilities to 6 villages in District Lakki Marwat and is currently developing facilities for 2 more villages this year. 

An overwhelming majority of Pakistan’s population does not have access to clean and safe drinking water. In most rural communities, it is the women and female children who are responsible for transporting water from long distances for domestic consumption. Fulfilling this daily responsibility leaves little time for women to pursue more productive work and the takes the girl child away from her education.

Moreover, access to clean drinking water would protect the rural population against common water borne diseases.

To redress this situation, the Saifullah Foundation has been installing hand-pumps in as many small villages, which our survey has indicated lack clean drinking water.

In addition SFSD rehabilitated and maintained a tube-well providing clean drinking water to a population of over 2,000 people in Lawang Khel village of Lakki Marwat District. 

Water for Irrigation

The Foundation has installed a pilot drip irrigation system at Tajazai in District Lakki Marwat. This system has been installed at a private agricultural farm to demonstrate a scientific and productive way for crop irrigation whilst minimizing water wastage.

Drip irrigation provides the plant with continuous, near optimal soil moisture by conducting water directly to individual plants. This system of irrigation is eminently suited for an area with inadequate water for irrigation in an arid climate.

Vocational and Technical Training

To improve the employment prospects of the area, SFSD has instituted the Skill Development and Computer Literacy Program in Sarai Naurang, as well as the Vocational Training Centre for Women at Ghazni Khel.

Affiliated with the Skill Development Council (SDC) NWFP, the Serai Naurang Computer Centre (SNCC) was established in November 2002 and conducts courses of 3 and 6 months duration. Upon successful completion of the course, candidates are awarded SDC validated certificates.

Recently, the SNCC has also started offering a one-year Diploma in Information Technology (DIT) program which is affiliated with the Board of Technical Education – Government of NWFP.

Further information on the Skill Development Council – NWFP can be found at:
http://sdcnwfp.com/register-institute.php

Promotion of Sports and Recreation

The Foundation has set up a Sports Club at Serai Naurang which provides facilities for Badminton, Volleyball and Table Tennis for the youth.  

Every year the Club organizes three badminton and volleyball tournaments. Players from all over the District of Lakki are eligible to take part. The winners of each category are awarded trophies and individual prizes by the Chief Guest at the conclusion of the tournament. .
The Club also arranges for teams to take part in province wide badminton tournaments.

SFSD has also set up a reading room, at Serai Naurang, which provides access to Urdu, English and Pashto language newspapers and periodicals. This reading room is designed to promote a regular and healthy reading habit amongst the youth, to engage them in a positive manner with the world around them and to enable them to discover facts and information for themselves instead of relying on hearsay.

Community Radio Station

Lakki Radio FM-88 went on air in 2004 to broadcast public awareness programs as well as to provide a degree of general entertainment for the Serai Naurang area. The station has successfully met these twin objectives and FM-88 has gained a dedicated following in the local broadcast area.

Lakki Radio FM-88’s public awareness programming content is in the local language (Pashto) and is geared towards promoting awareness amongst the listeners on issues relating to population welfare, family planning, education (especially the benefits of educating the girl child), public health, water management, soil conservation and the use of appropriate technology to boost crop yields. In addition guest experts from various fields are also interviewed.

The general entertainment programming includes segments where popular music and songs in Pashto and Urdu are broadcast.

Additional information on the Saifullah Foundation for Sustainable Development can be found on their website:
www.sfsd.org.pk