Date: Thursday May 21, 2020
Venue: F-7 Cricket Ground Islamabad, near Flower Market, Jinnah Super
Interfaith League Against Poverty (I-LAP), a national civil society organization, carried out the first ever distribution of Personal Protection Equipment Kits for Sanitary Workers in Pakistan on Thursday May 21, 2020 in Islamabad. The distribution was carried out for the sanitary workers of the Municipal Corporation Islamabad and Rescue 1122 Personnel. The 1000 PPE kits comprised coveralls (washable), rubber gloves, heavy duty rubber boots, goggles, masks and helmets.
Speaking on the occasion Chairman I-LAP Sajid Ishaq said that Pakistan is undergoing a severe threat of Coronavirus where over thirty thousand people have tested positive. He said that we are fighting against an invisible enemy however if each one of us takes care of himself as well as of others by following the directives of WHO on hygiene and social distancing, we can certainly defeat this pandemic from creating further havoc in Pakistan. He said that we salute and hold in high esteem our Frontline Heroes such as doctors, paramedics, sanitary workers and civil society organizations that are reaching out to provide assistance during the pandemic.
Chairman Sajid Ishaq said that the Sanitary Workers are doing a tremendous job of working in highly volatile conditions where they collect hospital waste as well as solid waste around the cities during the pandemic which makes them susceptible to contracting coronavirus. He said that it was distressing that these Sanitary Workers have been working day and night in such dire conditions without any Personal Protection Equipment. He further said that he was grateful to the Supreme Court of Pakistan for recognizing the importance of PPE kits for the Sanitary Workers in Pakistan.
Nazia Ansari, Executive Director I-LAP, thanked the partners for their generous assistance which made the distribution of PPE Kits possible. She said that I-LAP would endeavor to continue working in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office, CDA and MCI for providing relief to the residents of slum areas. She said that I-LAP has in its pipeline to start a Cash-for-Work Project in the 11 main slum areas of Islamabad and other smaller settlements for engaging slum dwellers for cleaning their colonies by removing the solid waste from the water channels and alleys.
She also stressed on the need to provide COVID-19 Hygiene Training to slum dwellers of Islamabad as they live in extremely densely populated colonies. She said that by ignoring the importance of cleanliness and disinfection of slum areas we have overlooked the fact that the residents of posh areas of Islamabad cannot do without the services that these people provide for the city be it in the shape of paramedics, janitors, house maids, beauty parlour workers, drivers, plumbers, electricians, etc. She emphasized on the fact that these workers can play a major role in spreading the Coronavirus to residents of posh sectors, hospitals and commercial areas.
The Mayor of Islamabad Sheikh Ansar Aziz commended the efforts of I-LAP in providing the much needed PPE Kits for the Sanitary Workers. He assured I-LAP of continuous support of the Mayor’s Office in all future endeavors of I-LAP.
Sajid Ishaq Sandhu completed his Master’s degree in Business Administration from Manila, Philippines. He did Community Development Studies from University of Birmingham, Sally Oak Collage UK and proceeded to Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada for Development Evaluation Study. He also pursued various short courses from different countries including USA, Canada, United Kingdom, and Europe.
Sajid Ishaq Sandhu’s formal education has served as the foundation for his ability to develop keen leadership skills, solid business judgment, and excellent communication abilities.
On his return to Pakistan Sajid Ishaq Sandhu put his abilities to best use by establishing Interfaith League Against Poverty (I-LAP) in Islamabad, a National Non-Governmental Organization. As Chairman I-LAP, Sajid’s aim was to promote interfaith harmony and peace in the region through different development projects alongside assisting the marginalized communities, irrespective of their faith, cast, and creed. In a short span of time I-LAP was able to establish its presence in four provinces of Pakistan, namely Punjab, Sindh, KPK, and Baluchistan.
Under the able leadership of Chairman Sajid Ishaq Sandhu, I-LAP has worked extensively in Islamabad Capital Territory, Rawalpindi, Districts Mansehra, Balakot, Swabi, Nowshera and Mardan, KP Province; Districts Turbet and Gwader, Balochistan Province; Districts Rahim Yar Khan, Khan Bela, Lahore and Jhang, Punjab Province; Districts Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin, Tharparker and Karachi, Sindh Province.
As Chairman I-LAP, Sajid Ishaq Sandhu has also been actively contributing in Advocacy and Lobbying for the Right to Religious Freedom, Interfaith Harmony, Reducing Religious Extremism, Promotion of Religious Tolerance and raising voice for access to justice.
Sajid Ishaq Sandhu has always been in the forefront in giving response to natural and manmade disasters throughout the country and has played a vital role in community development through promoting interfaith harmony, Peace through Education, livelihood, Water and Sanitation and Reconstruction of schools destroyed in the earthquake.
Chairman Sajid Ishaq Sandhu believes in participatory projects done in close relationships with the community members through forming Community Based Organizations and Self Help Groups.
Sajid Ishaq Sandhu has a trustworthy experience in working with international partners particularly food aid, food security, cash for work, WASH, rehabilitation of agricultural land & water sources, reconstruction of schools, construction of one room and two room shelters and latrines.
Since 2004, Interfaith League Against Poverty (I-LAP), under the guidance of Chairman Sajid Ishaq Sandhu, has worked with various international partners in various long and short term projects.
Sajid Ishaq Sandhu established Pakistan Interfaith League (PIL), a socio-political movement, with the conviction that the people of Pakistan should be represented by a Socio Political movement that perceives the nation as one entity as depicted in the national flag; a movement that neither represents majority nor the minority but humanity on the basis of equality. PIL has come forward to ensure collective wisdom, coexistence, justice, peace, tolerance and interfaith harmony in the country.
Sajid Ishaq Sandhu, Chairman PIL is of the belief that instead of treating people with different religious beliefs as minorities they should be given equal status as all other Pakistanis. They should be permitted to compete at all levels without bias, prejudice and condemnation. They should be considered an integral part of Pakistan as they are proud to be Pakistanis.
Chairman PIL, Sajid Ishaq Sandhu’s diligent perseverance in achieving the objectives has led PIL to successfully establish 544 Interfaith Units at Divisional, District, Tehsil and Union Council levels. At present PIL has over 400,000 registered members belonging to different religious faiths.
PIL Interventions
Lynching of Christian Couple in Kot Radha Kishan, 2014
Kasur Incident 2013
Hazara Genocide 2013
Joseph Colony, Badami Bagh, District Lahore, 2013
Burning of Sarhadi Lutheran’s Church, District Mardan, 2012
Rimsha Masih Case, Islamabad, 2012
Kasur Incident, District Kasur, 2009
Gojra Incident, District Faisalabad, 2009
Chairman Humsub.TV is the ideologue and driving force behind HumSub TV. He has long been the flag-bearer for peace and interfaith harmony not only within Pakistan but at a global level.
Sajid Ishaq Sandhu, Chairman Humsub.TV established HumSub TV as Pakistan’s leading forwarding-thinking, edutainment channel, aimed at promoting and upholding peace, interfaith harmony and social responsibility within Pakistan through informative and insightful programmes and documentaries; analytical interviews on issues pertaining to social, economic, legal and environmental set-up; dedicated shows to canvass and thereby promote the culture and heritage of Pakistan and in-depth coverage of national and international news.
Chairman Humsub.TV anchored various programmes and talk shows on HumSub.TV, however the iconic show which received high acclaim by the viewers and ultimately became his recognition remains, “Red Zone with Sajid Ishaq”.
Sajid Ishaq Sandhu’s ultimate aim is to see Pakistan become a true democratic State. He continuously struggles for equal rights for all Minorities; Access to Justice, Quality Education for All and for the abolishment of Discriminatory Laws that discriminate on the basis of religion.
