Karachi, In an effort to combat illiteracy in Sindh, renowned sports figures, including Shahid Afridi and Jahangir Khan, are set to auction off their memorabilia today. The event, organized by the Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) and Green Crescent Trust (GCT), aims to raise funds for educating needy children in the province. This charitable initiative is expected to draw over 250 members from Karachi’s business and industrial sectors.
According to Green Crescent Trust, the collaboration between SAF and GCT, which began five years ago, has focused on enrolling out-of-school children and providing them with quality education. This partnership has successfully transformed the lives of over 35,000 children from deprived backgrounds through a network of charitable schools across Sindh. The auction will feature memorabilia from other celebrated athletes as well, including Javed Miandad, Jansher Khan, Samiullah, Kalimullah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Babar Azam, making it a landmark event in the philanthropic calendar of Karachi.
The evening is not only about raising funds but also includes entertainment in the form of humorous poetry by renowned poets Khalilullah Farooqi, Khalid Irfan, and Hakeem Nasif, adding a cultural dimension to the charity event.
Shahid Afridi, the chairman of SAF, expressed his organization’s eagerness to garner substantial support from the business community in Karachi, emphasizing the importance of accelerating educational initiatives for underprivileged children. Zahid Saeed, CEO of GCT, highlighted the collective resolve to address the issue of out-of-school children in Sindh, with a goal to expand GCT’s school network to 250 and enrol up to 100,000 students by the end of 2025.
The joint statement from Afridi, Jahangir Khan, and Zahid Saeed underlined the commitment of SAF and GCT to work towards the long-term eradication of illiteracy in Pakistan, bringing hope and opportunities to its youth. This event underscores the potential of leveraging celebrity influence and community support to address critical social challenges in Pakistan.