Muslim Aid signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)  with Balham Mosque & Tooting Islamic Centre on June 23 2011. The MoU  establishes a partnership between Muslim Aid, Balham Mosque and Tooting  Islamic Centre for the  construction of 50 houses, a healthcare centre and a school in Nisar Khoso  village in Thatta, Sindh.

Balham Mosque donated £125,000 to Muslim Aid toward the  project. The cheque was received by Muslim Aid’s Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Mr Tanzeem  Wasti.  Payment was presented by Mr Faruk Valimahomed, Chairman of  Balham Mosque together with Mr Abdul Razzak Osman, Treasurer and Mr Abdul  Majid, Head of Finance.

Mr Tanzeem Wasti said: “We are delighted to have joined  together with Balham Mosque and Tooting Islamic Centre to continue our  rehabilitation work in Pakistan. The generosity of the donors will enable  Muslim Aid to provide homes, health services, education and livelihood support  in one of the poorest districts of Pakistan.”

Faruk Valimahomed, Chairman of Balham Mosque said: “It is  an historic moment. Balham Mosque and Tooting Islamic Centre felt the best  avenue would be to associate ourselves with a reputable charitable organisation  and we elected to do that through Muslim Aid.”

The two organisations have agreed to work on an  integrated village development project in Thatta, devastated  during the  floods of 2010. Under the MoU, Balham Mosque  and Tooting Islamic Centre will continue to support the health centre and  school with resources raised in the future.

The development work in Thatta is part of Muslim Aid’s ongoing flood rehabilitation  programme in Pakistan, where the Charity is implementing an integrated model  village project in 5 districts of Pakistan, within Punjab, KPK and Sindh.

The project sets an excellent example for other Mosques  and community organisations in the UK to direct their donations to development  projects already being supported by Muslim Aid in Pakistan.

Notes to Editors:

· Muslim  Aid is a relief and development agency set up in the United Kingdom in 1985 to  provide humanitarian assistance to disaster affected countries and to help poor  and vulnerable communities overcome poverty. Over the last 25 years, Muslim Aid  has expanded its work to cover over 70 countries worldwide. Muslim Aid  works with all communities irrespective of faith, ethnic origin or political  system. Muslim Aid programmes include emergency relief; capacity building  through water, sanitation and health programmes; education and skills training;  micro-financing and income generation and orphan care. As well as giving  practical assistance, Muslim Aid tackles poverty by developing sustainable  solutions, advocating for a more just and sustainable future.

· For  further information about the work of Muslim Aid and its overseas field  branches, please visit Muslim Aid website at www.muslimaid.org or  contact Communications Manager Michelle Davis on +44 0207 377 4200 or  
[email protected]