“Education Is the Most Powerful Weapon to Change the World”
A Shared Message from Saleem Chaudhry, Robert Fontana, Barrister Safdar Hussain, Murtaza Joya, Naveed Chaudhry, Mehboob Ali Shaikh, and Other Community Leaders
Community Leaders Unite to Promote Education, Humanity, and the Elimination of Child Labour — Saleem Chaudhry and Robert Fontana Honoured
Special Report by Mehboob Ali Shaikh
A distinguished gathering was held in Mississauga, Canada, hosted by Saleem Chaudhry, Chief Executive Officer of Dixie Electronics & Appliances, in honour of journalists, community leaders, and prominent social figures. The event reaffirmed a shared commitment to promoting education, ending child labour, advancing community welfare, and strengthening humanitarian efforts worldwide.
Speakers emphasized that approximately 138 million children around the world are currently trapped in child labour, stressing that providing these children with access to education is a shared responsibility of the global community.
Welcoming the guests, Saleem Chaudhry said that there is no greater investment than charity and education. Reflecting on his own journey, he shared that his path from a small town to Government College Lahore, then UET Lahore, and ultimately earning a Master’s degree from California State University was made possible through education. He added that serving elders and promoting education have always been among his highest priorities.
Renowned senior journalist and author Robert Fontana described education as the most effective tool for overcoming poverty, injustice, and deprivation. He noted that fortunate nations are those that ensure every child has access to education, while millions of children across the world are still deprived of even basic schooling. He pledged his full support for initiatives that expand educational opportunities.
Barrister Safdar Hussain praised Saleem Chaudhry as a pillar of the community who consistently leads charitable and humanitarian initiatives. He said that education is the foundation of national development and that spreading knowledge is one of the greatest forms of lasting charity.
Former President of NED Alumni Canada, Imran Ahmed, highlighted that scholarships are being provided to deserving students at NED University, with overseas Pakistanis playing an important role in ensuring that talented students are not denied higher education because of financial hardship.
Murtaza Joya, founding member of the VR Community, said that serving humanity is the true measure of success. He recalled that hundreds of thousands of dollars had previously been raised to support medical assistance for the Palestinian people, describing it as a powerful example of collective humanitarian action.
Naveed Chaudhry, founder of Pak Pioneer, emphasized that education, healthcare, and community welfare thrive through collective participation. He shared that books and educational materials have been distributed to underprivileged children in remote areas of Pakistan who otherwise had little or no access to schooling.
Addressing the audience, journalist, author, and global humanitarian Mehboob Ali Shaikh said:
“My mission extends far beyond reporting on politics, sports, the economy, tourism, entertainment, education, and healthcare. It is also about bringing the light of education to the nearly 138 million children around the world trapped in child labour, because education is the most powerful weapon that can change the world.”
He also highlighted that official FIFA World Cup footballs have been manufactured in Pakistan since 2014, calling it a remarkable achievement that has earned worldwide recognition for Pakistani craftsmanship. He announced that he would continue presenting the official Pakistan-made FIFA World Cup football as a symbol of appreciation to individuals and organizations making outstanding contributions to education and humanitarian service, reinforcing the message that sport and education can together inspire positive global change.
During the ceremony, Mehboob Ali Shaikh presented the official Pakistan-made football used in the FIFA World Cup 2026 to Saleem Chaudhry in recognition of his outstanding contributions to education and community service. In return, Saleem Chaudhry honoured renowned senior journalist Robert Fontana with a commemorative medal in recognition of his distinguished achievements.
The event also introduced several respected journalists, including Ashraf Khan Lodhi, Asfar Rizvi, and Muawaz Siddiqui, along with numerous community leaders. Distinguished guests such as Farooq Malik, Iftikhar Qureshi, Zahoor Bhutta, Javed Chaudhry, and many others also attended the ceremony.
The gathering concluded with a shared commitment to ensuring that every child has access to education, raising a stronger global voice against child labour, and uniting sports, education, and humanity on one platform to build a brighter, more inclusive future for generations to come.
