LOWER DIR: The Friends of Paraplegics, in collaboration with the US-based Muslim charity Zakat Foundation of America, distributed 125 winter kits to people with disabilities in the Upper and Lower Dir districts on Monday.

A total of 60 winter packages were distributed in Upper Dir, followed by 65 packages in Lower Dir’s Shamshi Khan area of Talash.

According to a spokesman for the US-based charity, the initiative aimed to provide essential relief to individuals and families struggling with harsh winter conditions and poverty. The packages included items to help recipients stay warm and secure during the freezing cold, he added.

The recipients expressed deep gratitude for the timely support, with one of them telling local journalists, “This act of kindness has brought us immense comfort during these difficult months. We are thankful to the Zakat Foundation for their compassion and care.”

The spokesman explained that by partnering with the Friends of Paraplegics, they were able to ensure the support reached those who needed it most.

ART EXHIBITION: Government middle school Sarai Payeen organised an art and craft exhibition that drew a large number of students eager to showcase their talent.

The students displayed drawings highlighting contemporary issues faced by living beings, such as climate change and its effects, water scarcity, and its preservation.

They also presented artwork featuring historic landmarks in Pakistan, including the Khyber Pass, Minar-e-Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam’s Tomb, as well as 3D science designs.

Later, addressing the participants, the school’s headmaster and educationists praised the efforts of the students and emphasised that such events should be organised in other public sector schools.

Shields and cash prizes were distributed among the position-holding students on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2024