SAFWCO Celebrates 38 Years of Service and Creating the Impact in Lives: Further to Expands into Energy and Insurance Sectors

HYDERABAD: Dr. Suleman G. Abro, Founder and CEO of SAFWCO, announced that the organization is preparing to expand its services into new sectors, including higher education, agri-business, insurance, and energy. He shared this vision during a ceremony held to mark the 38th anniversary of the Sindh Agricultural and Forestry Workers Coordinating Organization (SAFWCO).

Addressing the audience, Dr. Abro emphasized that the economic crisis, largely driven by climate change, has severely impacted agriculture, causing significant destruction. The energy crisis, particularly the shortage of electricity, is also taking a toll on industries. He highlighted that rural communities are increasingly disconnected from agribusiness. "We need to address these challenges, think about the future of our people, and focus on innovation. It’s essential to explore new dimensions, establish new institutions, and strengthen existing ones to ensure that our efforts reach the masses. That is the true measure of success, and we need more successes like this," Dr. Abro remarked. He further urged that perseverance and tolerance are essential, as obstacles will always arise in the journey toward progress.

Dr. Abro shared his experiences from a visit to the Philippines, where he observed an organization similar to SAFWCO, called 'CARD', which was founded in 1986. Supported by both the government and other institutions, CARD has since grown into a group of 25 companies. "Generations of people work there, with every employee embodying the values of its founder, Dr. Alp. We started working for children 38 years ago, and now we are working for their descendants," he added.

Dr. Abro emphasized that SAFWCO remains accountable to the people, with every individual in the organization holding a position that should be regarded as a responsibility rather than just a title.

Earlier, Mr. Syed Sajjad Ali Shah, Managing Director of SAFCO Microfinance Company, highlighted the significant impact of SAFWCO and its related organizations. "Three institutions have emerged from SAFCO, employing thousands of people. Together, they have served more than 5.3 million families across various sectors, including education, healthcare, disaster relief, infrastructure development, and financial support for small businesses," he said. He noted that SMCL has served 1.2 million families, SSF 3.5 million, and SAFWCO over 600,000 families.

Mr. Shah also underscored SAFWCO's prominent role in Sindh. "Whenever an NGO is mentioned in Sindh, SAFWCO is the first name that comes to mind, and when SAFWCO is mentioned, it’s synonymous with Dr. Suleman G. Abro. The NGO sector in the province would be incomplete without his contribution."

Speaking at the event, Bashir Ahmed Abro acknowledged the tireless efforts of Dr. Suleman Abro from SAFWCO's inception. "Thanks to his dedication, every SAFWCO employee is held in high esteem within the community."

The event was also addressed by Satram Suthar, Zeeshan Memon, Rameez Iqbal, Iram Maria Rajpar, Shabana Mallah, Iqra Shoaib, Shahzeb Memon, and others.