Chaudhry Tabraiz Aurah
London :In a remarkable display of generosity, Muslim Hands, a British charitable organization, and Saudi Arabia’s Meezab Group have jointly launched the Open Kitchen Project in Makkah. This initiative, which started on the first day of Ramadan, aims to provide free Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) services to low-budget Umrah pilgrims.
The project is currently operating in five hotels managed by Meezab Group, serving 1,000 freshly prepared meals daily between 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM. These hotels accommodate many pilgrims, particularly from Pakistan and other countries, who often struggle to arrange meals due to financial constraints. Acknowledging this issue, Muslim Hands and Meezab Group partnered with Dahra Faisalabad, a well-established food company in Makkah, to ensure the smooth operation of this initiative.Pilgrims have expressed deep gratitude for the service, offering prayers and appreciation for the organizations involved.
This project was made possible through the collaboration of Muslim Hands Chairman, Syed Lakht-e-Hussnain Shah (Sitara-e-Pakistan), and the owners of Meezab Group, Shahid Mahmood Anwar, and Imtiaz Chaudhry. They were further supported by Syed Bilal Kazmi, an expert in the food business, who helped address the challenges faced by Umrah pilgrims.
To ensure its successful execution, Muslim Hands UK and Meezab Group entrusted Ehsan Shahid Chaudhry (B.E.M.), the founder of the Muslim Hands Open Kitchen in Hounslow, UK, with overseeing the project arrangements in Makkah.
The official launch event took place in a local hall in Makkah, attended by Muslim Hands UK Chairman, Syed Lakht-e-Hussnain Shah, who traveled to the holy city with his team, including Board of Trustees member, Sahibzada Maulana Ghulam Jilani, and Office Manager, Umar Javed Bhatti.Representing Meezab Group, Saudi partner Mohammed Hisham Al-Habbash, along with Shahid Mahmood Anwar and Imtiaz Chaudhry, were present. The event was also attended by Dahra Faisalabad Group owners, Abdul Aziz Muslim Al-Hadhali and Syed Bilal Kazmi.During the event, Syed Lakht-e-Hussnain Shah presented special shields on behalf of Muslim Hands UK to honor distinguished guests for their contributions. He extended heartfelt appreciation to Meezab Group and Dahra Faisalabad for their dedication to serving the pilgrims.In his speech, Syed Lakht-e-Hussnain Shah emphasized the importance of such humanitarian efforts, stating:“Allah grants the privilege of serving others to those whom He blesses. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to supporting the guests of the holy city.”
Looking ahead, he expressed hope that Meezab Group and Dahra Faisalabad would expand the Open Kitchen Project to operate year-round in Makkah and Madinah and extend its services during Hajj.This initiative marks a significant milestone in charitable efforts aimed at supporting pilgrims, ensuring they receive nourishing meals while performing their spiritual journey.
