Pakistani-origin American businessman Ali Sheikhani has shrugged off the criticism over his ‘Ramazan rozgar scheme’ and his association with Zafar Abbas of the JDC Foundation in Karachi.

“Seth khila raha hai tumhein kia? The wealthy are serving, what’s your problem?” he said while appearing on Aaj News’s Ramazan transmission Baran-e-Rehmat on Tuesday.

The businessman, who joined the Sehri transmission of the news channel, said this while responding to a question about serving high-quality meals in the holy month.

“It is unjust to enjoy meals in five-star hotels while only providing basic food to the lower middle class.”

The initiative empowers individuals by providing them with rickshaws and bikes, enabling them to earn a livelihood independently, Sheikhan added.

Also, read this

Ramazan 2025: Sehri and Iftar timings calendar for Karachi

How to apply for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ‘8070’ Ramazan Relief Package?

Which colours should individuals wear to control anger?

The American entrepreneur praised Abbas’s dedication, noting that he felt his “contributions are only a fraction of the JDC’s Abbas efforts.” He stressed the importance of specialised training, particularly in fields like IT, to improve job opportunities.

The JDC Foundation’s core mission, Sheikhani explained, is to promote self-sufficiency within the community, allowing people to earn their living rather than relying on food aid. He addressed concerns about creating dependency, stating, “I will teach them to earn, but first, I will feed them.”