Ismaili Girl Guiding registers as New Chapter of Pakistan Girl Guides Association

Guiding is about raising your voice, standing out and making adifference. At a formal ceremony held, the Pakistan Girl Guides Association (PGGA) has acceptedIsmaili Guides as one of its chapters, in the name of AKYSBP. This endorsement means recognition ofIsmaili Guides as a separate identity at the national level. This major decision took place at the 62nd Annual National Council meeting of PGGA at Islamabad on November 14th, 2011.

PGGA is a non–governmental organization and is the largest voluntary organization working for the welfare of the girls and young women in Pakistan. With a voluntary membership of 117,692 PGGA earlier had 8 chapters in the country, namely, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), Balochistan, Khyber Pukhtoon Khawa (KPK), Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad Capital Territory( ICT), Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), AKYSBP being the new 9th chapter. PGGA is a member of World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), through its Asia –Pacific Region. Members of Asia Pacific Committee of WAGGGS visited Pakistan from 15th to 20th November, 2011 for a Partnership Visit.

During the visit the AP Team met Office Bearers, Executive & Council members, different Committees. The office bearers of the new Chapter of PGGA – AKYSBP, are as follows:of PGGA, including the new Ismaili Chapter council members.

• Chapter President – Miss. Shams Jeewa (Chairperson, Aga Khan Youth & Sports Board for Pakistan)
• Chapter Commissioner – Dr. Sonia Aly Vallani (National Board Member, Guiding Portfolio, Aga Khan Youth & sports Board for Pakistan)
• Chapter Secretary – Ms. Hina Zulfiqar Ali Velji
• Regional Commissioner – Mrs.Rozina Issani
• Regional Commissioner – Ms. Naeema Mehrban Ali
• Chairperson of Young Leaders – Ms. Salima Abdul Ali
• Chairperson of Program Sub–Committee – Ms. Sahar Mansoor Ali

This milestone achievement in the history of Ismaili Guiding of Pakistan came after decades of hard work and ongoing struggle for attaining higher standards in Guiding. There have been continuous strives for social service projects conducted by the guide companies, through which the dual purpose of service and learning by doing gets accomplished. Moreover Ismaili Guides have also been working on the Millennium development goals (MDGs) with great enthusiasm, which is an attempt for making a better world. We are proud that our guides and guiders have achieved highest national awards and company shields and we look forward for additional initiatives to achieve Excellence in Guiding.

A separate chapter of Ismaili Guides at PGGA will certainly open avenues and lots of opportunities for the development of our girls and young women at national as well as at international level.

via AKYSB, P Press