Waheed was born in 1966 in the poor and isolated village of
Noon Bagla, where the people are simple, content and poor, but
loving. With
very restricted education available he left traditional studies
and learnt by observing the skills of others for example watch
repairing, photography, electrics, electronics, and he studied
by reading books covering science, geography, astronomy, computers,
etc.
He
was inspired to be a volunteer for the welfare of his people
and in 1985 he set up an association of village youths, and
named it ‘Young Welfare Association’. He and his
contemporaries spent their pocket money printing its manifesto!
The village elders were sceptical but finally in 1990 people
began to realise the merits of the Association and supported
their activities.
Their
first achievement was to stop the deforestation of the area
where the timber mafia were causing much destruction. The next
priority was the religious and moral education of local children,
and an institute was opened with help of local people and a
children’s park at the edge of the village – now
destroyed by the earthquake.
After the earthquake Waheed co-opted new volunteers from the
survivors and provided first aid help to people in the area,
with the co-operation of other NGOs.
Waheed
wished to do something to benefit his people in the longer term
and, given his background, commitment, enthusiasm and resourcefulness
he was the perfect choice to appoint as Project Manager for
the hospital in Noon Bagla.
He
said, “Now AHS Foundation has planned to build a hospital
here in the village. I want to quench my thirst here and wish
to Allah to give me enough time and ease to play my due share
in its construction and operation. God has given me an opportunity
to satisfy my soul, and by his grace, I shall avail it. This
is a lot more than my dreams. My thoughts were just limited
to my village, while this project would benefit thousand of
more people. May God help me. (Amen)”
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