Presentation of 12 Wheelchairs to Moulana Abdul Sattar Edhi. From left to right:
Executive Secretary A. Malik, Rtn. Kazi, Rtn. V.P.N Halal, DGN Abdul Haiy Khan, Rtn. President Nariman K. Irani, Rtn. Dr. H.A. Hatimi, Chairman Community Services Committee, Moulana Edhi and
Rtn. Dr. H.S. Anklesaria, Chairman World Service Committee.
11th May 1933: RCK formally admitted to Rotary International, through the grant of a Charter, presented by Rtn. Douglas C. Howland of RI Asiatic Office. Sir Montague P. Webb, then the owner of the Daily Gazette, a leading newspaper of British India, became the first Charter President of the Club.
Soon thereafter the Club started the Karachi Children’s Welfare Society, which organized clinics & dispensaries for children from less-privileged background in several areas of the city.
1935: RCK was one of the foremost institutions in giving monetary donations for the victims of the devastating Quetta earthquake.
1940-1945: During the Second World War years, the Club extended its support to St. Dunstan’s Fund for the Blind, the Poor Patients Relief Fund and Sind War Gifts Fund. It also helped to make the Karachi Blood Bank operative, and the setting up of the Karachi Remand Home, among other activities.
1951-1953: Attendance Trophy of R.I. District 51 won by RCK in 1952/53.
Annual Club dinners of 1951 and 1953 were graced by Governor General of Pakistan, Khawaja Nizamuddin and Ghulam Mohammad Esq. respectively.
February 1954: The RCK hosted the first District Conference of R.I. District 51, of which the Club was then a part. District 51 covered the province of Sind in Pakistan, and the Indian areas of Cutch, Kathiawar & Gujrat (excluding Bombay).
1958 onwards: All round services to the community continued. These included building of a cottage at the Ojha T.B. Sanitorium by PDG Yussuf Chinoy (then the Club’s President). This cottage was furnished and a dispensary was set up at Gizri Bagh Colony in 1962. The clinic was supervised by club member, Dr. Sohrab Anklesaria.
1960-1965: Prominent speakers at the Club weekly meetings included world renowned historian Arnold Toynbee, Father Dominique Pire, Nobel Peace Prize winner of 1958, and His Holiness Syedna Taher Saifuddin, the spiritual head of the Bohra community. And in December 1964, President of R.I., Charles W. Pettengill paid an official visit to the Club.
1966-1975: In this period, among other regular activities, the Club helped hospitals with supply of medicines, equipment, water coolers, etc. It also built a school building in Orangi Town, and helped a number of schools with mats, books, cash grants and tuition fee support to needy students
25 Schools in Karachi were screened and found traces of TB amongst 0.45% of students.
Father Dominique Pire Nobel Peace prize winner of 1958 at the Rotary reception (1961)
H.E. Khawaja Nizamuddin with Karachi Rotarians (March 1951)
1976 – 1983: The Club adopted Thano Village near Malir, improving sanitation, supporting health surveys and vaccinations. Small utility stores were set up, inoculation of children against various diseases was carried out, an industrial home for women was constructed, and a boys’ football team was organized.
The Club supported the Karachi Traffic Police by installing 4 automatic traffic signals and promoting road safety awareness through short films in cinemas.
1978: Relief goods worth Rs. 15,000 were sent for earthquake-affected communities in Bisham.
1980–81: The Club supported healthcare by donating 15 wheelchairs to a charitable hospital run by Abdul Sattar Edhi.
1981–82: A school hall was built in APWA Artisans Colony at Drigh Road to improve education facilities for local students.
1982–86: Fortnightly eye camps were held at the same school with the support of Dr. Hoshang Anklesaria, providing regular eye care services to the community.
1982: An eye camp was organized in Khairpur with the Rotary Club of Khairpur, led by Dr. Hoshang Anklesaria, and this later became an annual programme. In the same year, 101 pacemakers worth Rs. 2.4 million received from abroad were donated to the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi for patient treatment.
1965–1983: As Karachi expanded, RCK helped form new Rotary Clubs by sharing its territory under Rotary International rules. New clubs included:
8–11 May 1983: During the presidency of R. Amin Ahmed, the Golden Jubilee of RCK was celebrated as “50 Years of Rotary in Karachi” with all eight Karachi clubs participating.
8 May 1983: A press conference was held at Hotel Intercontinental with PDG Kassim Dada, IPDG Abdul Haiy Khan, PP Mohamed Akbar, and presidents of all Karachi Rotary clubs. The 4-day programme was announced, ending on 11th May, with a joint dinner meeting where Mahmoud A. Haroon, Interior Minister of Pakistan, was Chief Guest. During these 4 days, a wide range of activities were carried out for the local communities, including among others, hearing aid distribution at Ida Rieu Centre, an eye camp treating 76 patients with 12 operations, and inauguration of a provisional Interact Club at St. Patrick’s High School. Science equipment was also given to a school, along with tricycles and toys for Edhi Home children, and a blood donation drive at Sind Red Crescent Society.
Aziz Memon President of RC Karachi presenting a memento to RI President Jonathan Mojiyagbe in Colombo, Also seen PP Nariman Irani, PDG Akhtar Alavi, PE Zahid Zaheer and PDG A.A.M. Mohsin.
Dr. Hoshang Anklesaria examining a patient at an eye camp.