ISLAMABAD: In a landmark event, the PAF in collaboration with the Rashidabad Memorial Welfare Organization (RMWO) launched a welfare project by the name of Alamabad near Swabi on Tuesday. The mega project has been initiated for the welfare of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in general and the local populace of Swabi in particular. KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak along with Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman unveiled the plaque of Alamabad to mark the earth-breaking of the project. The project is in line with the vision of PAF and RMWO to set up model villages throughout the country by integrating all essential facilities in a well-knit mosaic so as to ensure a positive beneficial outflow to the needy rural folk and that too under one roof. One such project by the name of Rashidabad located near Hyderabad has already created an everlasting impact on the people of Sindh and is serving the local populace with dignity. Located near Swabi Interchange, Alamabad has been named after the legendary fighter pilot of PAF Air Commodore MM Alam (late). The project will comprise educational, vocational and healthcare centres in close proximity with an aim of alleviating poverty and eliminating illiteracy from the adjacent rural areas of KP. PAF and RMWO have also teamed up to launch a similar project in Quetta with the name of Yunusabad. Addressing on the occasion, Air Chief Sohail Aman said, “Besides providing an impregnable aerial defence of the country, PAF has always shouldered the responsibility of nation building. In this regard it has initiated welfare projects for the progress of the country which include quality educational institutions and state-of-the-art vocational training centers. Rashidabad, a project by retired PAF officers, is a miracle indeed and a living proof of the fact that lighting such candles would soon illuminate the whole country”. Addressing the audience, KP chief minister acknowledged the sincere efforts and personal interest of the air chief in this project. “I hope this project would usher in a new era of prosperity and progress in this area. It would not only equip the youth of this area with technical expertise but also open new vistas of social development and educational betterment,” he said, and lauded the selfless contribution of the people of the area for donating one thousand Kanal of land for the project. Two documentaries were also shown on the occasion. The first one portrayed the life of MM Alam, whereas the second highlighted the contributions of Rashidabad Welfare Project in interior Sindh. Speaker KP Assembly, provincial ministers, members of provincial assembly and high-ranking civil and defence officers also attended the ceremony. Published in Daily Times, February 21st 2018.