LiveLikeAli Welfare: Serving Humanity Beyond Divisions

LiveLikeAli Welfare is a humanitarian initiative founded on the belief that service to humanity must rise above all divisions. Our work is deeply inspired by the teachings, compassion, and generosity of Imam Ali (A.S), whose legacy teaches us that true faith is reflected through service to others. Our mission is to support vulnerable communities through food distribution, healthcare assistance, educational support, and environmental initiatives, with the aim of creating not only immediate relief but also long-term impact through compassion and consistency.

Since our inception in Februray 2026, we have carried out ration drives for families in need, provided medicines and healthcare support to victims, assisted children with school fees, organized Sabeel (free drinking water, milk, or juices to travelers and passersby) and relief services during extreme weather, arranged food drives for daily wage workers (especially during Eid-ul-Adha), visited orphanages to conduct engagement activities, and initiated plantation drives to promote environmental responsibility. We are also in the process of building our own orphanage, which is one of our most important long-term goals.

A Tragedy That Became a Turning Point

The foundation of LiveLikeAli Welfare is rooted in a tragic yet transformative moment- the Imambargah Tarlai Islamabad blast [1]. I was a regular attendee there, but on that particular day, I could not go. This left me with a deep sense of regret and unanswered questions. But with time, I came to realize that perhaps Allah had chosen a different path for me- to serve those who had suffered.

In the absence of any formal organizational support, sufficient resources, or an immediate state response, ordinary people like myself stepped forward in the aftermath of the blast to support the injured and help save lives. I personally went to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences with first aid supplies to assist those who were struggling to access basic medical care and essential supplies, a challenge that is all too common in public sector hospitals. What I witnessed there changed me forever. Many of the victims and martyrs were daily wage earners, and in an instant, their families were pushed into severe financial hardship. It became painfully clear to me that
their suffering did not end at the hospital – it had only just begun.

That realization became the turning point that pushed me to act with greater purpose. I began by arranging ration support, medicines, and school fee assistance for the children of the victims, recognizing that the loss of a breadwinner creates long-term struggles for an entire family. What began as an immediate response to a single tragedy soon evolved into a much larger mission of sustained care and support. It was in that moment that I understood these efforts needed structure, continuity, and scale, and I made the decision to formalize them into an organization so we could reach more vulnerable families and create a deeper, lasting impact.

As these efforts grew, so did my sense of responsibility toward this mission. At just 21 years old, while completing my final year of BS Computer Engineering at COMSATS University Islamabad, I formally took on the role of leading and expanding this welfare initiative. My work now involves coordinating activities and volunteers, ensuring the transparent distribution of resources, identifying deserving beneficiaries, and keeping the team united around a shared purpose of service.

This journey has been both challenging and deeply rewarding. Among the most powerful moments have been witnessing families regain hope through even the smallest acts of support. Those experiences continue to remind me that meaningful change does not always require vast resources- when guided by sincerity, commitment, and compassion, even small efforts can create lasting impact.

Challenges and Lessons

Like many welfare initiatives, our journey has not been without significant challenges. One of our greatest struggles has been securing consistent funding, especially in the face of rising inflation and increasing operational costs. Another ongoing challenge is fairly identifying and verifying deserving beneficiaries, while also maintaining volunteer consistency and managing resources effectively. In our early stages, the absence of structured systems made this work even more difficult. Public trust also remains a major concern, particularly because the misuse of charitable platforms by some organizations has created skepticism around welfare work.

These challenges have taught me that meaningful welfare work cannot happen in isolation. It depends on strong collaboration with multiple stakeholders. Government bodies play an essential role in healthcare access, permissions, and welfare coordination. Other NGOs help us collaborate and avoid duplication of efforts. Civil society contributes through donations and awareness, while young volunteers remain our greatest strength in carrying out this mission. I strongly believe that welfare development in Pakistan can be strengthened through better coordination between NGOs and the government, simpler processes for welfare initiatives, and greater encouragement of youth participation.

At the same time, there are many barriers that make it difficult to reach those who need support the most. Remote and underserved communities are often hard to access. Financial limitations restrict the scale of our outreach. Social barriers can prevent women and marginalized groups from receiving help, while in many cases deserving individuals are simply unaware that support exists. Ensuring that aid reaches the right people fairly and without bias remains one of the most important and challenging responsibilities of welfare work.

Internally, the success of our work depends on the commitment, sincerity, and unity of our volunteers, as well as strong leadership, planning, and the availability of resources. Externally, factors such as economic instability, inflation, harsh weather conditions, limited access to certain areas, lack of institutional support, and political or administrative obstacles continue to shape and sometimes limit our efforts.

Despite these challenges, I see immense opportunities for growth. Social media has become a powerful platform for awareness and fundraising. Partnerships with other NGOs and community groups can strengthen our collective impact. Digital systems can improve transparency by helping track donations and beneficiaries more efficiently. Youth engagement and volunteer programs can expand our reach, while partnerships with local businesses and donors can build stronger support networks for long-term sustainability.

Through this journey, I have learned some powerful lessons: small initiatives can grow into impactful missions; consistency matters more than scale; transparency builds trust; youth can drive real change; and above all, humanity must stand above divisions. To strengthen this work further, we need greater support from donors and sponsors, stronger facilitation from the government, skilled volunteers, wider media coverage to amplify these efforts, and most importantly, the trust and participation of the community.

Changing our mindsets and focusing on uniting for welfare

My recommendations for the welfare sector in Pakistan are simple but necessary: simplify NGO registration and compliance processes, promote transparency standards across welfare organizations, encourage youth-led initiatives, strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors, introduce digital tracking systems for welfare distribution, and invest in proper training for welfare workers.

Above all, I want people to understand that LiveLikeAli Welfare is not just an organization- it is a mindset. It is the belief that serving humanity is one of the highest purposes in life. My message to the people of Pakistan is simple- if we shift our focus from our differences to our shared humanity, we can solve many of our problems together. Inspired by the events of Karbala, I believe that true success lies in standing by others, especially in their hardest moments. Because in the end, even the smallest act of kindness can save a life or transform it for the better. The verse of the Quran that must unite us all for welfare work and eliminate hostilities and conflict must not be forgotten- “…if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all mankind…” (Al Quran- Surah Al-Maidah, Verse 32).

[1] The Imambargah Tarlai Islamabad blast refers to a devastating suicide bombing that took place on 6 February 2026 at Khadija Tul Kubra Imambargah during Friday prayers. The attacker opened fire and then detonated explosives inside the premises, causing at least 31 Shia worshippers to be killed and more than 169 Shias to be injured. The suicide attacker is linked to ISKP (the regional affiliate of the extremist group Islamic State) and the martyrs were mostly from working-class families leaving many dependents without livelihoods.