History Of Rotary Club Of Rawalpindi
The Rotary Club of Rawalpindi was the brainchild of Rtn. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer, the then member of Constituent Assembly of Pakistan and Past President of Rotary Club Of Karachi. At a tea party given in his honour by Mr. Inam-ur-Rahim, the then Commissioner Rawalpindi Division; Rtn. Ahmed E. H. Jaffer proposed the setting up of a club in Rawalpindi. This idea was accepted and Rotary Club Of Rawalpindi was founded with Mr. Inam-ur-Rahim as President and Lt. Col. Shahbaz Khan as Secretary.
On Wednesday, April 16, 1953 the club was formally established when the first Luncheon meeting was held and club office bearers were elected. With Rotary Club Lahore being the Sponsor Club, the Charter was issued by Rotary International on May 26, 1953 with Lt. Col. Shahbaz Khan as the first President and Rtn. Fateh Muhammad as the first Secretary of the Club.
The Charter Banquet was held on Friday 26 June, 1953 at Flashman’s Hotel, Rawalpindi. The Charter was presented by Late Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan, the then Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army in the presence of Rtn. Governor Mohan Singh of 52nd District of Rotary International.
During the first ten years, the Club donated more than Rs. 30,000 for a variety of worthwhile projects, including Rs. 25,000 for the T. B. Clinic for the eradication of Tuberculosis. Since 1964, the Club has assisted a variety of charity and fund drives. The most outstanding was a contribution of Rs. 5000 to the National Defense Fund in 1971.
For the Rotary Club Of Rawalpindi, 1972-73 was another productive year. Looking back to January 1972, when weekly attendance was barely above the minimum required for the quorum (out of the active membership of 18) considerable improvements were achieved. Meetings averaged 12 to 20, with several 100 percenters. Membership reached the 40 mark with significant individual contributions. The Projects undertaken during 1972 indicated the affiliation to the cause of Rotary.
Since 1973, Rotary Club of Rawalpindi remained actively engaged in multi-dimensional humanitarian projects on Health, Poverty Alleviation and Literacy. The Last four and a half decades 1973 t0 2010 evidenced heroic struggle of Rotarians of this Club.
Rotary Club of Rawalpindi in 2009 organized interesting programs and invited eminent speakers which included :
- His Excellency Robert Klieve, Ambassador of Norway in Pakistan.
- His Excellency Babar Hazlan, Ambassador of Turkey in Pakistan.
- Ms. Valiere Khan Yousufzai, Acid Survival Foundation.
- Ms. Raseema Alam , Peace fellow of Hashu Foundation.
- Mr. Kashif Shabbir, President Rawalpindi Chamber Of Commerce and Industry.
- Madam Uzma Gul, Varan Tours Rawalpindi.
- Ms. Lozina Shoaib, daughter of a brave Maj. Shoaib Shaheed who was martyred at Parade Lane.
- Ms. Amna Bano, Akhuwat Trust.
- Dr. Basharat Jazbi, Red Crescent Society. Pakistan.
Rotary Club of Rawalpindi actively took part in relief activities of 2005 Earthquake and 2009 IDP’s Problem. This year again, members of Rotary Club of Rawalpindi are actively taking part in Relief Efforts for the Flood Affected people of Pakistan keeping alive the traditions of this Club in line with the policy of Rotary International.
The old Club record that has been passed on by Rotarian Haji Iftikhar Ahmed, Rotarian G. M. Chaudhary and Rotarian Haroon Sulaiman Khan has been placed in the Club Library Archives for refreshing the memories at any brink of time and cherish the humanitarian efforts made by our colleagues.