Rotary International is a welfare organization, which is engaged in several projects pertaining to the well being of humanity. Members of Rotary sit together and search out the solution of the problems. The process of thinking starts from local level and reaches upto the global level. In response to the request made by Anti-Tuberculosis Association Faisalabad, the members of Rotary have got a new Toshiba X-ray plant installed at Anti-Tuberculosis Hospital Faisalabad. The particular point of this plant is the cooperation extended by the Rotary District 3120 Varanasi Mid Town (India), which is indicative of close fraternity among the peoples of Pakistan and India.
Sheikh Ashfaq Ahmad, former President of Rotary Club Faisalabad, has been presently designated as Chairman of Project Committee of RCF.
Talking about the background of Rotary, Sheikh Ashfaq Ahmad said that it was on February 23, 1905, that a lawyer, Paul Haris, of Chicago made a programme to sit together with his three friends who belonged to different professions. A meeting used to be held at each one's house by rotation due to which it was named "Rotary". During the course of these meetings they wondered as to why they should not work for the welfare of the society by inducting other people with them and thus in 1907 they completed their first service project by collecting mutual fund. A public latrine was got constructed outside the Town Hall of Chicago. After that, Rotary Clubs started coming into being. The number of the members began to increase day-by-day and Rotary spread in other countries outside America, he added.
In 1917, Rotarians founded Rotary Foundation. First of all a donation of $26.5 was received. As the passion of Rotarians was based on truth and they were committed for service to humanity, the people started becoming its members in a large number as the saying goes "The people started coming and it became a Carvan".
Sheikh Ashfaq Ahmad said that at present there are 31,603 Rotary Clubs in 166 countries of the world and the number of their members has risen to 1,211,723. Rotary Foundation which had received only $26.5 in 1917, has so far received funds of more than one billion US dollars and every year this amount is going on increasing. In USA, Europe and Japan, many people have donated their total assets to the Rotary Foundation before death. The funds of Rotary Foundation are utilized for the welfare and betterment of humanity and usually under-developed and poor countries get its benefits. Polio is a dangerous disease and a programme at global level has been chalked out for its eradication. Rotary Foundation has been providing millions of dollars in shape of Polio Vaccine drops. Pakistan, India, Africa and many other countries of the world are utilizing this aid.
Talking about the X-ray plant for tuberculoses patients, Sheikh Ashfaq Ahmad said that in the Rotary's mission the factor of Pakistan-India friendship had also become prominent. The X-ray plant was the part of matching grant of Rotary Foundation, he added.
He said that one fourth of its share had been provided by Rotary Club Faisalabad, while the same proportion of share had been given by Rotary District 3120 of Varanasi Mid Town India. The remaining fifty percent amount had been provided by Rotary Foundation, as a result of which the X-ray plant worth Rs. 2.5 million had been installed for tuberculoses patients.
Sheikh Ashfaq Ahmad further stated that whereas the initiative with regard to the X-ray plant had been taken for the welfare of humanity, it had also gone a long way towards promoting Pak-India friendship. He expressed his thanks and gratitude for Baldev Das Gujrati, Governor Indian Rotary District 3120 Varanasi Mid Town, and his colleagues, for extending a hand of generous cooperation for the assistance of tuberculoses patients. He added that poverty was increasing in Pakistan and India and the situation was going to become more critical and alarming.
Sheikh Ashfaq Ahmad maintained that the friendship and cooperation between the two countries could be further augmented for the noble cause of well being of humanity. He disclosed that the Anti-Tuberculosis Association had also been founded by the members of Rotary Club Faisalabad, who are still carrying on this mission on the providing medicines and gifts every year. When enquired about some of the misunderstandings as to whether Rotary was an organization of Jews, Sheikh Ashfaq Ahmad said that it was absolutely incorrect. He made it clear that at present Rotary Clubs are working in more than 166 countries throughout the world and all of these were not "Zionist countries". He said that four principles of Rotary are very close to Islam and Hadith, which are being honoured by all members of Rotary. Those principles are;
a) Is it the Truth? b) Is it Fair to all concerned?
c) Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendship? d) Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
Besides that, Rotary demands from each of its members love with the religion, faithfulness with the country and service of humanity irrespective of religion, nationality, colour and creed.