On  31 August 2024: Medical Department arranged a free medical camp in Sohan which was the second camp in one month on the request of people of that area. Fifty-one patients were treated.

On 01  August 2024: Mahgull Koreshi, Founding Member of Mashal and Director Communications, Aini Hali participated in a live program on ABN TV to discuss the projects and working of Mashal Association.

On 1st  August 2024: Meeting with Website Hosts to improve the Mashal webpage.

The process of negotiating for better service is in progress. Intern Abeer is helping Mashal in social media marketing.

Prize Distribution Ceremony was held at Gosha-e-Mashal on 06 April 2024. Students, their parents, Mashal Members and their guests participated in the event wholeheartedly.

Prizes were awarded to position holders and best achievers.

The idea of starting a nursery came because Mashal Association was providing education only to the senior section. The need for establishing a Pre-Nursery or Montessori was felt to have a structured curriculum for young learners.
It was an uphill task, but Mashal President Fauzia Asim, with the support of financial contribution from Nadia Ambrin, the dream of setting up the nursery became a reality.
Today, thirty cute voices fill our nursery class. Their vibrant energy is a testament to our dedication and determination. Each of their beaming faces serves as a reminder of our mission – to persistently strive for educational excellence in the pursuit of moulding tomorrow’s leaders at Gosh e Mashal.

Prize Distribution Ceremony was held at Gosha-e-Mashal on 21 March 2023. Students, their parents, Mashal Members and their guests participated in the event wholeheartedly.

Cash Prizes, Certificates, trophies and medals were awarded to position holders and best achievers.

Students also presented a variety program, which was highly appreciated by the guests.

Mashal School for Girls has added a new wing to its premises with the help of generous contributions of the members and their families.

Vice President Mashal Association Mah Gul Koreshi, was the driving force behind this project hence the Boardroom has been named after her.

A colourful gala at the Pak-China Friendship Center was organized by Behbud on 7 & 8 January 2023. The Meena Bazaar had food, craft  and products of a large variety on sale. Mashal participated in the event and showcased different products prepared by its handicraft department.

As February 4th is the International Day for Cancer Awareness, our medical department invited Dr Nida, oncologist working with Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, to deliver a talk on the subject to women from the communities located around our welfare complex ‘Gosha e Mashal’. Dr Nida explained why early detection leads to complete cure and the causes that result in this particular illness and answered all the questions raised by the audience. Mashal s President Mrs. Fawzia Asim, thanked Dr. Nida and presented her with a shield at the end of the session.

The Medical Department arranged a Free Medical Camp on 20th September 2022 in collaboration with The Diabetes Centre which is Pakistan’s First Specialized Diabetes Hospital.

Initially Mashal school children from class 8 onwards, were screened out.The students first screened out for blood sugar level, then went to data entry desk, then to the Nutritionist, then to Diabetologist and finally to the Ophthalmologist.

After the student’s screening short lectures were given to the students, domestic workers and the members who were present by The Diabetologist, Nutritionist and the Ophthalmologist.

Later on question and answer session was held. Then Mashal domestic staff went through this whole process. Efforts were made to accommodate as many persons as possible within the given time (which was till 3p.m) and capacity. In the end a simple lunch was served to the guests (which was hosted by the doctors of the Medical Department).

Annual Prize Distribution Ceremony was held at Gosha-e-Mashal on 31 March 2022
Mashal Members, students and their parents were invited to the ceremony. The Education Department had organized an impressive variety program for the occasion. Farkhanda J. Andrabi, President
Rotary Club of Islamabad Metropolitan (RCIM) and Malik Ashraf Hameed, Past President RCIM were the chief guests. They appreciated the confidence of the students and their progress. Members and Farkhanda Andrabi distributed trophies and cash prizes to the position holders.
Both distinguished guests donated cash prizes to the high academic achievers.
Some Glimpses of the Prize distribution

The Election Committee Team comprised the following:
1. Zarina Nasim
2. Amna Salman Butt
3. Lubna Quraishi

The elections were held in a cordial atmosphere and the procedure was conducted smoothly
Fauzia Asim was elected as President for the term 2022-25.

The Executive Committee for 2022-25 is as follows:

Vice President: Mahgul Koreshi
General Secretary: Aisha Amir
Joint Secretary: Unsia Bano
Treasurer: Fehmida Badar
Co-Treasurer: Amra Noman
Administrator: Rukhsana Mir
Co-Administrator: Dr Razia Ejaz
Director Education: Talat Azim
Co-Director Education: Farzana Saeed
Director Medical: Dr Badar Hamid
Director Vocational: Pervern Malik
Co-Dir. Vocational: Farrukh Aurangzeb
Director Projects: Dr Shamim Zaidi
Director Communication: Aini Hali

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Serena Hotel organized a networking breakfast to recognize, applaud and admire talented women. First Lady, Mrs. Samina Alvi was the chief guest. Mashal Association also participated and set up a stall to display and sell items produced by its handicrafts department. The Chief Guest appreciated the crafts presented by Mashal.

Eid Milan Party was organized, in which all members participated wholeheartedly.

Mashal Handicrafts Department participated in Rawal Town Business Women’s Association Bazar to showcase and sell its products.

AGM at President Mashal Association’s Residence

Fresh cycle of activities commenced from September 2021. Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held at the residence of President Mashal Association. Review of activities for raising revenue and fund raising was carried out, while targets were set for the next year . Annual Report was presented by Mahgul Koreshi, General Secretary of Mashal.

Eid Gifts by Mashal Handicrafts Department

Mashal Handicrafts Department prepared exquisite items for sale for Eid 2021. The unique Eid Gifts became popular and were sold out in a short time.

As per tradition, Mashal distributed Ramazan Package comprising rations and Eidee for all Mashal Staff. Friends of Mashal stepped forward with big Zakat Donations for medicines, education sponsorship and pre-loved goods and donations for sale in charity bazars.

The wives of Turkish, Japanese and Malaysian Ambassadors paid a visit to Gosha-e-Mashal to donate school bags for children. It was a very successful visit, a detailed tour of the building and departments was given to them. They were very impressed with our work and promised to spread the word around for our sponsorship program.

Support for women social enterprises underscored Islamabad:The Serena Hotel on Monday hosted the Women’s Day Breakfast and Crafts Bazaar to acknowledge the trailblazing women of society and provide support and representation to women social enterprises.

First Lady Samina Arif Alvi was the chief guest on the occasion, which was attended by noted women leaders from politics, sports, healthcare and charities as well as other segments of society including journalists and members of the Diplomatic corps and their spouses.

An exhibition of social enterprises for women empowerment as well as organisations working to support persons with disabilities and social justice was set up which included a colourful crafts bazaar. The exhibitors included the Pakistan Foreign Office Women Association (PFOWA), Behbud Crafts, Indus Heritage Trust, Mashal Association, Andaaz, Rozan, Nomad Gallery, Care for Special Persons Foundation, Aga Khan Economic Planning Board for Pakistan and Pakistan Air Force Women’s Association (PAFWA).

CEO Serena Hotels South and Central Asia Aziz Boolani said that Serena Hotels is working to create a workplace where everyone can advance, and a culture of equality that unlocks human potential. “We are proud to be the first EDGE (Economic Dividends for Gender Equality) certified hospitality company in Pakistan. Today, we celebrate the achievements of women and pledge to collectively create an inclusive world.”

Breast Cancer Awareness Seminar was arranged at Gosha-e-Mashal on 22 October 2020 by Medical unit headed by Dr. Badar. Dr. Rafia Shahid was the keynote speaker. The participants were girls and women residents of Kutchi Abadi near Margalla Town, Islamabad. Rukhsana Sarfraz, President Mashal, thanked the residents of the Kutchi Abadi for attending the Seminar and the Specialist for responding to the questions by the participants. This was a useful seminar for the under developed community.

The month of October has been dedicated to the Pink Ribbon Campaign, which in Pakistan is an initiative of Begum Samina Alvi, wife of the President of Pakistan.

The organizers of the seminar must be appreciated because it was held in a locality where people are reluctant to even discuss it. At the seminar they were not only informed about the prevention and detection of Breast Cancer but its treatment.

News and photographs of the event were published in eight leading national news dailies.

In accordance with the Constitution of Mashal Association, Elections are held every two years. This practice follows a formal procedure in which a neutral Election Committee is appointed, after approval of the General Body of the Association, which conducts the elections in a transparent manner.

Elections 2020-2022 were scheduled for March 2020 but were delayed due to Lockdown because of the outbreak of the pandemic COVID-19. Once the lockdown rules were relaxed, the elections were held on 7^th October 2020 for which the General Body nominated a three member Committee comprising Unsia Bano as the Chairperson Election Committee with Mrs. Naheed Qureshi and Dr. Razia as members. This Committee was approved by the General Body.

It is heartening that the Committee worked hard to maintain the protocols and rules and regulations pertaining to the conduct of the elections in a fair and transparent manner. The Mashal Members extended a vote of thanks and expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the Election Committee.

7^th October 2020

Two candidates applied for the post of President, namely Mrs. Rukhsana Mir, proposed by Mrs. Perveen Aslam and seconded by Mrs. Anees

Taimori. Mrs. Tallat Azeem was proposed by Mrs. Shamim Zaidi and seconded by Mrs. Ayesha Amir.

Mrs. Rukhsana Mir was declared the President of Mashal Association for 2020 after securing a higher number of votes.

Eleven other members of the Executive Committee were elected unanimously:

Mrs. Fozia Asim—Vice President

Mrs. Mahgul Koreshi—General Secretary

Mrs. Ayesha Amir—Joint Secretary

Mrs. Fahmida Baddar—Director Finance

Mrs. Tasneem Masood—(Joint Treasurer)

Mrs. Perveen Aslam (Administrator)

Mrs. Farzana Saeed (Director Education)

Dr. Baddar Hamid (Director Health)

Mrs. Farrukh Aurangzeb (Director Vocational)

Mrs. Aini Hali (Director Communication)

Mrs. Anees Taimori (Director Grooming & Projects)

Federal Minister Sayed Abida Hussain taking keen interest in the hand made embroidery on the opening day of Gosha-e-Mashal’s Social Welfare Complex ( The Nation ).