Thank you for making it our most successful Qurbani ever!

2017 Qurbani Operation

This year Al-Khair Foundation (AKF) completed Qurbani in eleven countries across two continents. AKF has completed the largest scale operation for Qurbani in the UK, surpassing target goals for this year’s Qurbani programmes. In Pakistan, Qurbani was carried out in over 15 different locations. AKF was able to distribute meat to the most vulnerable people around the world, including several internally displaced people’s (IDP) camps in Myanmar (Burma) and Somaliland, showing AKF’s dedication to reach those who are most in need.

Qurbani is obligatory for any sane, free adult Muslim individual who possesses Nisab, the minimum amount of wealth requiring them to pay Zakat. AKF distributes their Qurbani to deprived communities and isolated areas. AKF’s field offices also distribute Qurbani meat during the days of Eid-al-Adha to those who need it the most. Additionally, AKF has allocated Qurbani pick-up centres across the globe, in all the countries where Qurbani is performed, where people can come and collect Qurbani meat from. Cards are distributed to families before Eid, which have to be filled in and collected upon receiving the Qurbani meat.

AKF only co-operates with vetted and reliable partners in all countries. Furthermore, independent monitoring and evaluation from HQ provides the required confidence. All partners have to pass a thorough due diligence check before AKF decides to begin working with them.

The extensive monitoring procedures throughout the Qurbani process ensures the highest standards throughout the operation - from procurement of the animals to delivering the meat to communities. Consistent monitoring provides effective quality control, as well as further information about how the following year's Qurbani operation could be improved.

The Qurbani Process

Fundraising began this year through AKF’s two TV channels; IQRA Urdu and IQRA Bangla. Live appeals ran throughout the run-up to Eid-al-Adha, where prices for each animal and each country were aired on television 24/7. This year many Qurbani donations were received online, as prices were also displayed on the AKF website. Donors reported that the website was an easy and efficient way of completing their Qurbani. Pictures and videos of the farms and animals AKF uses during this time of Qurbani are telecast on IQRA Urdu/Bangla and on all of AKF’s social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

An overview

ASIA

PAKISTAN

In Pakistan alone, 8,688 Qurbanis were performed, making Pakistan the biggest region for Qurbani this year, as AKF successfully delivered 152,080 kgs of meat benefiting 760,400 people.

Location

AKF performed and distributed Qurbani in 15 locations in Pakistan this year. These included Muzaffarabad, Mansehra and Fata. In Punjab, the locations for Qurbani were Jataoi, Kot Addu, Lahore, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur. Other locations included Islamabad, Karachi, Tharparkar, Baluchistan and Gilgit.

Qurbani was also carried out in our model village of Ehsan Pur. The village residents receive Qurbani meat every year, as well as Eid gift packs.

All Qurbani processes are overseen by Islamic scholars to ensure that the procedures are compliant with Islamic law. AKF adheres to strict practices of procurement for Qurbani.

Kashmir/Afghanistan

In destitute areas in Kashmir/Afghanistan 1,810 Qurbanis were performed. Meat was distributed in Neelam Valley and Hatiyyan Bala amongst the most vulnerable people in the region. In total 31,600 kgs were supplied to 158,000 people.

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh 289,600 people received Qurbani meat. AKF carried out Qurbanis in 18 different locations in the major cities of Dhaka and Sylhet. AKF was able to deliver 57,920 kgs of meat to those most impoverished in the city. This totaled 3,325 Qurbanis.

India

This year in India meat was distributed to over 1,423,000 people, A major Qurbani operation was carried out in the following locations; East Medinipur, West Medinipur & Burdhman districts of the state West Bengal. This is a total of 16,530 Qurbanis for the region this year. 284,600 kgs were delivered in total to the most vulnerable people in the area.

Myanmar (Burma)

Qurbani was carried out in seven locations in Myanmar. Five of these are internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. The locations are U Yin Thar Village, Thet Kae Pyin IDP Camp, Dar Pai IDP Camp, Baw Du Pha IDP Camp, Say Tha Mar Gyi IDP Camp and Ohn Taw Gyi Camp in Sittwe. The final location of Qurbani distribution was in Rakhine State. AKF has touched the lives of thousands in Myanmar, who are dealing with the effects of conflict daily. With Qurbani donations and ongoing emergency appeals, AKF looks to ease the suffering of those in Myanmar. There were 570 Qurbanis benefiting 52,000 people from 10,400 kgs of meat in Myanmar.

Africa and the Middle East

Africa

In Africa, 7,850 Qurbanis were performed. The locations included Malindi town and Kilifi County in Kenya. AKF was able to reach more IDP camps in Somaliland, where meat was distributed to hundreds of the most needy. In total 159,600 kgs were given out to 798,000 people. The camps that received Qurbani meat include Hargeisa IDP camp, Balimataan IDP Camp and the Gunburaha District. In total over 7,850 Qurbanis took place in Africa this year.

A young boy collecting meat for his family in Somaliland 2017

Delivering meat in Somaliland 2017

Strengths and weaknesses

Why is AKF's Qurbani Programme unrivalled?

• The dedication of AKF to reach the most inaccessible areas within poverty stricken countries and those facing political/environmental conflicts.
• The number of different locations in which Qurbani takes place (15 in Pakistan alone).
• The distribution of meat to those who truly need it most, such as Syrian refugees in Jordan.
• The strict compliance of Islamic law with regards to slaughtering processes. AKF follows stringent practices of procurement through a procurement committee.
• The large number of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps across Asia and Africa that have received Qurbani this year.
• AKF’s mission to support refugees in the current crisis can be seen not only in our year-round programmes, but also in our Qurbani programme this year. This shows our continuous dedication towards refugee issues.
• AKF has cattle farms in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Kenya and only the healthiest animals are slaughtered.

What can be improved next year?

• Procurement committees were successful in Pakistan, however, no such committees existed in any other countries for Qurbani this year. The aim next year is to have more procurement committees to ensure that quality and monitoring remains efficient worldwide.