Syed Mussarat Khalil Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The united front of the Memon community and welfare services by the Memons throughout globe is exemplary, said Khaled Almaeena, Saudi Gazette Editor at Large, and cited Abdul Sattar Edhi, a Pakistani Memon, as an example. Edhi is a renowned and an acknowledged social worker globally. Almaeena was speaking at the reception hosted in his honor by the Memon Welfare Society (MWS). The reception in recognition of the ‘Knight of Journalism' Almaeena was termed as “An Afternoon with Khaled Almaeena” at a local restaurant recently. The MWS has been engaged in voluntary welfare services for the community in Jeddah for the last seven years. Almaeena, in his address, said it was a great pleasure being among group of Memons here. “I have known Memon families in my formative years and one of them from the Adamjee family was my friend. This family has done a lot for humanity in Pakistan. One of the best colleges in Karachi is the Adamjee Science College founded by the Adamjee family,” he said. Speaking further, on the “role of expatriate in the Kingdom”, he said, that “expatriate” was not the suitable word for foreign workers in the Kingdom. “In fact all human beings are expatriates, they are temporary members here on the earth. And as anywhere in the world all expatriates have a purpose. The foreign workers in the Kingdom include highly qualified and skilled professionals to small labors who have all played a vital role in various sectors of the Kingdom.” Digressing, Almaeena said, “I love the media because it can be a tool for positive change. By accident of history I am in a position to be able to write about, and highlight the plight of the poor and disadvantaged and at the same time bat for Saudi Arabia. “Given that there are millions of expatriates in the kingdom and in the days before the Internet and the fact that they largely did not have access to the rule of law, the media as a ray of hope for them. They would write letters to the editor and there were many instances where I went out of my way to intervene. “The role of woman in society needs to be enhanced as Islam gives enough rights for woman to contribute to society.” During the question and answer session soon after his address, Almaeena was asked several questions related to expatriate issues, to which he provided some blunt answers. MWS Secretary General Tayyab Moosani welcomed and introduced the chief guest. Moosani said that he has been reading the columns and articles of Almaeena since his arrival in Saudi Arabia in 1983 and always found them very interesting and informative. Moosani said, a blunt and bold journalist like Almaeena, through his articles has emerged as an advocate of expatriates. He added that Almaeena helped all regardless of religion citing a recent example of getting some innocent non-Muslims acquitted from jail. Dr. Iqbal Musani, who has known Almaeena for 35 years, said that he always found Almaeena very friendly and a keen helper of foreign workers in the Kingdom. He praised Almaeena for showing concern for the expat community of the subcontinent and for always raising his voice for their issues. A cake cutting ceremony for 6th Anniversary of MWS newsletter took place. A gift was presented by MWS to Almaeena as token of appreciation. Tayyab Moosani expressed thanks to all invitees and MWS patrons coordinator Shoaib Sikander for his untiring efforts to make the event successful.
