The Lahore area office of Action Aid Pakistan was established in November 2001 to advance the agenda of Action Aid Pakistan under its decentralization programme. This office caters to the need of both the Development Areas (DAs) in Punjab and also hosts events and activities on behalf of the country office. With establishment of the area office, Action Aid Pakistan country office provided DAs an opportunity to work with an Action Aid Pakistan office in their proximity.

The staff consists of seven members headed by Mr Nadeem Fazil, programme coordinator. The staff includes support and programme officials.

Following are the main activities of Lahore area office:

HIV/AIDS Support

The Lahore area office has set up HIV/AIDS support office in the red light Taxali area of the city. The Action Aid Pakistanstaff works with the community, both with males and females, to increase their level of awareness and particulalry sensitize sex workers regarding the spread of HIV/AIDS through unsafe sex work. The existence and interaction of Action Aid Pakistan in this area has literally moved the community to change their risk behaviours. The results show that the sex workers in Taxali area do understand the importance of safe sex and use of condoms, though sometimes they are helpless due to the risk behaviours of certain clients who do not agree to the use condoms. This HIV/AIDS support office conducts training and awareness workshops with the community utilizing the world acclaimed training manual on HIV/AIDS namely 'Stepping Stones'. Action Aid Pakistan is now preparing this manual in Urdu language based on its field experience and interaction with the stakeholders.

The support office in Taxali is in the second phase of this project and seeks suggestions regarding the future design of the project.

Violence Against Women issues

Action Aid Pakistan Lahore area office gives top priority to the issues relating to Violence Against Women. It extends support to various organizations working on these issues. Action Aid Pakistan Lahore office organized a regional workshop in first quarter of the outgoing year on the issue of violence against women, focusing on the support services for women.

Action Aid Pakistan Lahore office supported these organizations: Women Workers Help Line, War Against Rape, Tahaffuz, Savera and Centre for Legal Aid Awareness and Settlement in their programmes on these issues.

The Lahore office has been supporting a project to film a documentary on the forced marriages of foreign national girls (mainly British) to their Pakistani relatives. Documentary film professional, Ms. Beena Sarwar, has been working on this project.

The Lahore office also provided a small scale support for the campaign on the Code of Conduct on Gender Justice at workplace. A module for training on the issue of Sexual Harassment was prepared in collaboration with Islamabad office team.

Political Rights Campaign

Action Aid Pakistan Lahore office has been supportive of people's rights campaigns; particularly it supported the cause of Anjuman Muzareen Punjab, an organization working for the tenancy and land rights of the tillers of Okara and other state owned lands. This project had to be terminated due to some unavoidable circumstances.

An exhibition of photographs based on theme of peace and political consciousness was arranged in collaboration with Punjab Naujawan Mahaz.

The World day on Mother Language was celebrated in collaboration with local organizations.

Action Aid Pakistan took part in peace rallies against the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

A seminar on Industrial Relations Ordinance 2002 was organized in collaboration with Legal Awareness Watch.

Development Areas

Action Aid Pakistan Lahore office, besides preparing a pre-appraisal of Pattoki as a new area, took part in the ongoing activities of the existing DAs. Himmat Society was facilitated to hold a daylong consultation with DAs community to highlight the achievements of women in the respective areas.

Trainings

Action Aid Pakistan Lahore area office organized eight training workshops for the office staff, other NGOs and students of Punjab University on various development and gender related issues.