TERM 1988-1991

Haji Naji Year

At the Executive Council held on 14th. January 1989 at the Islamic Centre, London, it was unanimously decided to declare 1989 as Haji Naji Year and recommended various activities to be undertaken throughout the world in memory of Marhum Allama Haji Gulamali Esmail (Popularly known as Haji Haji)

The Council adopted the proposal that two scholarships be awarded in memory of Haji Naji.

The Council also recommended that a wing that was to be sponsored by World Federation at the Kidney Centre in Karachi also to be named after Haji Naji.

Foundation Fund

At the Executive Council held on 14th. January 1989 at the Islamic Centre, London, the Council recommended that the President and the Office Bearers undertake to travel around the world to collect the Foundation Fund. All Councilors expressed their full co-operation of assisting the President in raising the Foundation Fund. A sum of nearly Pound Sterling 40000 was pledged by various Councilors present.

World Conference of Khoja Shia Isnaasheri Businessmen

In order to have a greater cohesion amongst businessmen and professional in Khoja Shia Isnaasheri Community, an initiative was taken for calling a World Conference of all our businessmen and professionals at London on 14/15th October 1991.

It was decided that it SHALL NOT duplicate the work being done by 'World Federation' or any of their 'Regional Federation'. Nor will it usurp any of their powers. On the other hand, it was also agreed that neither World Federation nor any Regional Federation would get themselves involved in any economic or business projects which would be left to the businessmen themselves or their organizations to undertake.

The idea behind such a Conference is as follows:

1. To enable us to know each other personally and better so that mutual beneficial business can be transacted.
2. To discuss the challenges facing our community and devise ways and means of surmounting the same.
3. To launch an Economic Council on the principles of Chamber of Commerce.
4. To publish an International Trade Directory
5. To launch International Fund for investment in Trade and Industry
6. To launch an emergency Fund which can be used to meet any unexpected challenges like the recent mass evacuation of our entire population from Somalia
7. To establish a permanent Secretariat.

The Businessmen Conference was held, after the World Federation Conference, on 15th & 16th October 1991.

Settlement and Welfare Board (Set-Wel) of Supreme Council

The political upheaval in Somalia at the end of last year (1990) gave rise to the necessity of evacuation of member of our Community residents there. The efforts of the Chairman and members of Nairobi and Mombasa Jamaats were successful in meeting the necessity.

Having evacuated our Brothers, the question of their resettlement arose. This task required efforts to be made on a global basis.

They tried to settle them in Great Britain; Where World Federation endeavored to pursue this application in London but without much success.

In North America, NASIMCO handled the settlement in Canada. Papers have been filed with the authorities for the sponsorship of 11 families only.

To date 25 families have migrated to Pakistan. Mehfile Murtaza has either fully or partially maintained a substantial number of these families. They now advised that the body has spent Rs. 1.4 million already and are unable to continue any longer.

It advised that every family that is migrating to Karachi will now have to be covered by an advance remittance of USD. 30000.

SET-WEL COMMITTEE:

In view of the slow progress and the resultant feeling of despondency among the evacuees, the Supreme Council has set up a settlement and welfare board.

Action Plan The Set-Wel Committee adopted the following plan of action:

1. Raised USD 3.5 million from our community members around the world to meet the cost of resettlement.
2. Evacuees would be settled in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Pakistan.
3. The Global appeal for funds to meet the target to be made immediately.
4. Required data pertaining to all the families have been compiled. They are 40 families from Nairobi and 81 families from Mombasa.
5. Kenya (Nairobi and Mombasa) upto now has spent USD 1 million in evacuation, their day to day living expenses, medical expenses and air passage etc.

Appeal: SET-WEL Board appeals to all the Jamaats worldwide and their members to contribute generously to this noble cause so that our brothers can be settled in minimum delay.

Islamic Education Board (IEB)

Report - 14th. January 1989

The Chairman of the Islamic Education Board, Haji Muhsin Jaffer, presented a comprehensive analysis of all work of the Islamic Education Board. The two principle priorities of the Board were seen:

1. To be serving the Community of member Organization throughout the world and
2. Serving in the area of Tabligh in the wider context.

World Federation has been looked upon as a point of reference for guidance on religious affairs throughout the world. The World Federation would need to be well-equipped to deal with this great responsibility.

The Council needs to lend its full support to the Islamic Education Board and recommended that the IEB call upon the experts in the field to assist in its endeavors.