Pakistani lawyer and activist Tahera Hasan received the Commonwealth Points of Light Award for promoting the well-being of abandoned, stateless children.

This award is given to outstanding individual volunteers who make positive changes in their community.

Hasan founded the Imkaan Welfare organization in 2012 that has now grown into a shelter and recreational centre for orphaned children in Karachi’s Machar Colony. The colony is home to nearly 700,000 people. A mother and child healthcare system was also established there.

The Imkaan founder is a strong advocate of the adoption of orphans and stateless children and has helped many kids find homes. Her efforts have helped reduce infanticide as well as child abandonment.

Felicitations have poured in for Hasan on Twitter following the announcement.

Up to the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, one outstanding volunteer from each of the Commonwealth nations was recognised with an award.

Following the success of the programme, The Queen continues to award one volunteer from each country every week and sign a certificate for each winner. Awards are recommended by British High Commissioners in collaboration with Commonwealth nations.