Executive Editor: Hajra Muhammad S aleem Proofreader: S aiyed Hassan Ali

Sub Editor: Waqar Razak Graphic Designer: Erum haroon

Blind Resource Foundation Pakistan

Limelight News Letter

We Live By Faith, Not By Sight
Volume 2, Issue 3
October 2020 - February 2021

International White Cane Safety Day

15th October 2020 tribution of their Braille magazines. Fifty copies
of “Dil-e-Bina'' and hundred copies of “Ab Ge-
Each year White Cane Safety Day is Celebrat-
nay” Braille M agazines were presented to M r.
ed on the 15th of October worldwide to create
M annan by the magazine’s Editors, M s. Quratul
awareness about safe and independent mobili-
Ain Siddiqui (Editor Dil-e-Bina) and M s Erum
ty, highlight the problems and explore possi-
Haroon (Editor Abginy) respectively. Ms. Tay-
ble solutions for the visually challenged in our
yaba Waqas was also given a special gift as an
community. BRFP organized an event to cele-
appreciation for completing the Quran in Braille.
brate the day. The event was graced by honor-
During his address, M r. M annan highly appreci-
able chief guest M r. Abdul M annan, Ex Di-
ated the work being done by BRFP and ex-
rector Al-M akhtoom Special Education Cen-
pressed the wish to become a member of our
tre Islamabad, M r. M uhammad M ehtab
team. He said that over the years he has seen the
Alam, Investigative Journalist from The gradual downturn in the use of Braille which
News, M r. Abdul Basit, Software Specialist,
greatly overwhelmed him. But the efforts for
M r. Ahmed Dunba, Businessman and newly
Braille revival by BRFP has uplifted his spirit
joined member of team BRFP, along with M r.
and given him new hope to witness the rebirth in
M uhammad Hafeez, Founding M ember of
his life.
Cholistan Disabled Foundation.

On this occasion, BRFP announced free dis-

Foundation Braille Course

3rd-7th November 2020
“Those that know, do. Those that understand, teach”. A Foun-
dation Braille Course was organized by the Department of
Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) Govern-
ment of Sindh in collaboration with Blind Resource Founda-
tion Pakistan at Special Education Teacher Training Academy
Sindh, Jamshoro.
During the five day workshop facilitated by M r. Waqar
Younus (President BRFP), participants were trained to memo-
rize braille dots, how to use the 6 liner Braille writing frame
and the math writing frame, recognize math keys, read as well
as write in English and Urdu Braille. This training was con-
ducted for all the special educators and brailleists in Sindh.
Braille magazines were also distributed at M r. Amin
M emon’s school during this event.

A clip of Braille writing training

 Blind Resource Foundation Pakistan Limelight News Letter

International Day For Differently Abled People

3rd December 2020
There is no greater disability in society, than the inability to see a person as more. The Internation-
al Day of Disabled Persons is observed on 3rd December annually. On this occasion, BRFP orga-
nized an event in line with the theme “Building Better Back” to highlight the challenges faced by
the special needs community post COVID-19 pandemic. Two new Braille books were launched on
this occasion namely “Payam-e-Subha” a collection of Alama Iqbal’s poetry compiled by M.
Shakeel (G. Secretary, BRFP) and “M ehakti Kaliyan” a collection of poetry for children compiled
by Ms. Erum Haroon (Editor/Coordinator, BRFP). Both books were proofread by Ms. Quratulain
(Vice President, BRFP). Braille Quran Shareef were also distributed as hadiyah among students.
The event was attended by Ms. Shabana Ali, Principal Usmania Government Girls College as
cheif guest followed by M r. Karamatulla, Chairperson KAZBIT University and Chief Patron
BRFP. During his speech, M r. Karamatullah emphasized on making a commitment today to real-
ize that the rights of persons with disabilities is not only a matter of justice but also of an invest-
ment for a common future.

World Braille Day

4th January 2021
Blind Resource Foundation Pakistan held a cere-
mony on the occasion of International world
braille day; celebrated on 4th January 2021 at
BRFP’s office. Adhering to Covid restrictions, a
small number of guests and audience were invited.
The esteemed guests at the occasion were the
divisional head ABL M r. Fasi Siddiqui and Vice
President Deutsche Bank Pakistan M r. Faisal,
President BRFP M r. Waqar Younus welcomed the
guests and presented a brief introduction of the
organization. He also talked about BRFP’s prime
projects including Sindh Text book conversion
project, where all text books from grade I - XII
will be converted to braille form. Similarly, he
talked about the Quran project under which the Holy
Quran is distributed to desiring individuals free of cost
all over Pakistan. He also introduced BRFP’s special
publications such as our braille magazines (Dil-E-
Bena) and (Aab-Geenay) to our esteemed guests.
On this occasion, several books were inaugurated in-
cluding braille magazine Dil-E-Bena’s ninth edition,
children magazine Abginy’s fifth edition, Namaz time-
table for Rawalpindi Islamabad and Braille calendar
2021. A special publication of M astansan Hussain
Tarrar’s book (Ullu Hamaray Bhai Hen) was also inau-
gurated.

National Urdu Braille Conference

9th to 11th February 2021
Braille has been around for nearly 200 years, and for the people who can read it, it has proved invaluable. At BRFP, we realize that
there are more than 20, 00,000 blind individuals living in Pakistan and only a few thousand among them are Braille literate. There-
fore, we affirm that there is a strong need for not only promoting Urdu Braille but also upgrading it.
More consistency, less ambiguity, and fewer exceptions to Braille rules will make Braille easier to produce and may remove so me
barriers people have while learning braille. Showing more symbols in Braille will give the Braille reader better access to th e same
information that is available to print readers. To make this vision tangible, BRFP played host to the three day NATIONAL URDU
BRAILLE CONFERENCE which was organized with the collaboration of Pakistan Disabled Foundation, at the Social Welfare
Service Center - Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi on 9th, 10th, and 11th February 2021.
The conference provided an excellent opportunity to Urdu Braille experts from all over the country to share their knowledge a nd
ideas as an attempt to further explore the spectrum of possibilities and discuss special measures that can be taken for the unifica-
tion, up gradation, promotion, and betterment of the existing system of Urdu Braille.

The closing ceremony of the conference was marked by reading of the unanimously agreed points of resolution and recommenda-
tions for the up gradation of Urdu Braille standards, cake cutting ceremony as a celebration of Dr. Fatima Shah’s 107th birth day,
followed by closing remarks from the fellow panelists and guests which included Mr. Shahzad Akhtar,President Peak, Mr. Omer
President of Society for Karachi Youth, Mr. Kashif Akhtar, Directorate of Elementary and Higher Secondary Education Board,
Mr. Abu Bakar Madni Secretary social Welfare plus Chief Guest Mr. T ayyab Moosani General Secretary of International
Memon Organization and dua made by Mr. Waqar Younus, President BRFP. Honorary shields were presented as a token of
appreciation to Mr. Abdul Mannan, Ex-Director Special Education Department, Mr. Shahid Memon, Chairman Pakistan Disa-
bled Foundation, and Prof. Dr. Karamatullah, Director KAZBIT University and Cheif Patron BRFP. Souvenirs were also pre-
sented to the panelists who had attended the conference, Award for the most dedicated member of. BRFP was given to Ms.
Quratulain Siddiqui, Vice President BRFP, Quran Was also Distributed to Ms. Asma Nasir and gifts were distributed among the
team of volunteers to acknowledge their efforts.
 Blind Resource Foundation Pakistan Limelight News Letter

Primary Address:
House no A-34 sector 16/A Malik our community. Our journey began with a mission to revive the printing of braille Noorani Qaida and
cooperative society Gulzar hijri Quran Majeed, along with making the twenty seven liner writing slate readily available and distribut-
Phone: 0300-1112737
Email: brfpakistan@gmail.com
Website: www.brfpakistan.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
BrfPakistan/
Mission Statement
To provide all adequate
resources and proper guid-
ance to the blind for inde-
pendent living.
Vision Statement
Replace “Disable” with
“Capable”, and form an
inclusive society where all
negative metaphors and
signifiers, which misrepre-
sents a visually challenged
individual’s image in the
society, are eliminated.
Blind Resource Foundation Pakistan is a not-for-profit organization. Since its establishment in 2015,
we have been tirelessly involved in developing resources for the blind and visually impaired people in
ed free of cost all over Pakistan . From thenceforth, BRFP has published numerous books containing
Islamic and general literature, eminent among these are “Jumme Ka Tauhfa”, “BRFP Ke Kitchen Se”
and “MS Word With JAWS”. Our milestones also include the publication of Urdu braille magazines
namely “Dil-e-Beena”, “Payam-e-Sehar” and “Abgeenay” for children which is the first of its kind in
Pakistan. Apart from developing literature, BRFP also conducts online Quran classes and frequent
training on various topics such as mobility, self development, cooking and personal grooming etc for
the visually challenged.
Along the years, we have organized awareness sessions, promotions of Arabic braille, awards for aca-
demic excellence, vocational guidance and extra curricular activities including speech, quiz, and
braille typing competitions. These initiatives are taken
to ensure our youth are provided with a platform to so-  LIST OF ON-GOING PROJECTS
cialize, share their achievements and narrate the stories  Quran and Qaida
of their transformation. Currently we are putting togeth-  Online Quran Classes
 Quran Braille Training
er an online audiobook library and collaborating volun-
 Braille Books
tarily with Sindh Government to convert the textbooks of
 Availability of Assistive Equipment
grade 1 to 12 in braille. In the future, we aim and aspire  Braille Magazine –Dil-e-Bina
to focus on skill development as well as set up a school  Braille Kids Magazine—Abgeenay
for the visually challenged. The outreach in being a  Al-Suffa Online Audio Library
blessing to others is a resource for reflection and grati-  Training and Awareness Campaigns
tude for our team. Our goal is contributing in all possi-  White Vision Channel
ble ways to better shape the lives of people who live by  Audio Non-e-Haal Magazine in collaboration
with Hamdard Foundation
faith, not by sight.
 Transcribing of sindh textbooks into Braille
UP-COMING EVENTS
 Launching of Ramadan Calendar 2021
 Distribution of Quraan Shareef in Ramadan
2021

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAVE A LEGACY?

“You create your life through the inner power
of your being, whose source is within you and
yet beyond the selves that you know” - Jane
Roberts.
BRFP could not have achieved any of its
milestones without the support of our donors
and volunteers who have been by our side
since day one. Your contributions in the form
of financial and human resource have enabled
BRFP to carry on its mission of providing
resources in the area of education, skill devel-
opment and independent living for the visual-
ly challenged, We request for your coopera-
tion which will help us enter new phases of
growth and further strengthen our noble cause
of gifting these resource to those who need it
most.
Account Title: Blind Resource Foundation
Pakistan
A/C# 106800267270206
IBAN No# PK75BKIP0106800267270206
Bank: Bank AlIslami M oulana Yousuf Ludhi-
anwi Shaheed Rd Branch
Contact: Waqar Younus #0331-8115883
M uhammad Shakeel #0335-3233512
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and
intelligence wins championships." Team
Blind Resource Foundation Pakistan