The MWS, which works with the slogan of “partners in progress,” aims to strengthen community cohesion and serve Memon community members across the Kingdom and the Gulf within the framework of its initiatives.
MWS president Arif Memon told Arab News from Jeddah the society recently organized an exclusive get-together for Memon families at La Sani Spinzer Restaurant. This was the first social program organized by the new MWS office bearers. The event was attended by about 500 men and women including a number of top-notch businessmen and leaders of the Memon community of Pakistan.
A large number of prizes and gifts sponsored by MWS patron M. Iqbal Advani and board member Wasim Tai were also distributed on this occasion.
The event was organized by office bearers and stalwarts like Tayyab Moosani, MWS general secretary; Younus Habib, vice president; Mansour Shivani, vice president; and board members Ahmed Kamal Makki, Wasim A. Razzak Tai, Rashid Kasmani, Tarek Madani, Shoaib Sikander, Irgan Kolsawala, Mohammed Ali Osman, Adam A. Latif and Nasir Ibrahim.
Memons, who are predominantly Sunni Muslims, are a well-known ethnic group who trace their roots largely to Sindh, Kutch and Kathiawar in South Asia.
Referring to the MWS's community initiatives, which will go a long way in addressing the grievances of the Memon community of Saudi Arabia, Arif said the group has been intensively engaged in welfare programs. "The MWS has been giving scholarships to poor students besides extending assistance for treatment to needy persons as well organizing and assisting poor families in burial services," said Arif. The group has also been helping to provide jobs to the unemployed members of its community, he added.
This is in addition to owning and operating modern-curriculum schools and religious schools, holding seminars and career counseling sessions, helping people affected by natural disasters mainly in Pakistan and holding lectures featuring eminent scholars and offering many other social services like matrimonial services.
He called on the Memons in the Kingdom to join hands in these community programs. He said any Memon over 18 living in the Kingdom could join the MWS.
"Over the years, the MWS has strived to work on several projects and our vision is to provide a range of services along Islamic lines, sensitive to the needs of the varied local Muslim community," said Moosani, adding the MWS seeks to improve the quality of life, while enhancing community cohesion.
There are a number of organizations known for their humanitarian and community social services. However, MWS is considered the most reputed and progressive organization in the Memon world, he added.
He said that the MWS, whose charter was adopted on July 13, 2008 in Jeddah, felt the acute need to promote awareness about improving the Memon community socially and academically. The MWS founders gave a clarion call to the community at that time to face the challenges of time in order to compete with others in every field of life. Most members of the Memon community currently working in Saudi Arabia are from Pakistan with a few families from India as well.