Acid Survivors Foundation has been working on acid violence issues since 2006. The ultimate goal of ASF is to eliminate acid violence from Pakistan. Social Bridges recently conducted an interview with ASF Executive Director Ms. Valerie Khan Yousufzai to extract details about her organization.

Social Bridges: When did it all started. What was the idea/motivation behind starting an organization for acid victims in Pakistan?

Valerie: Well I got this idea after visiting a beauty salon in Lahore. There I came across many acid victims who were undergoing treatment (Smile Again Foundation). Since I discovered the issue, I decided that we ought to do something as well. Some British donors approached us who were eager to help but wanted us to create an NGO for that. So that was the start of our journey.

Social Bridges: I went through your Web site and found that your focus is on Southern Punjab. Do you have any plans to expand in other regions of Pakistan?

Valerie: Most of our victims are from Southern Punjab, certainly. But that doesn’t mean that we’ve restricted ourselves to just that region. We are also expanding to other areas. Right now we are exploring the possibility to expand our operations to Sindh, especially Karachi.

Social Bridges: What’s the arrangement for the treatment of these patients. Have you forged some alliances with hospitals and also with the foreign experts?

Valerie: We are Pakistani organization and so is our staff, patients and supporters so we want to develop local expertise. We first had an agreement with Dr. Hameed Hassan who agreed to provide medical services at subsidized rates. He is overseeing the efforts of providing the surgical care to patients. We are also organizing international camps where surgeons from UK and France will come here to conduct free surgeries and will also train the doctors and paramedics.

Social Bridges: What about the donations? Do you get most of the donations from the west or the locals are also helping you out?

Valerie: We get regular donations from international donors but we have to develop a network of Pakistani donors as right now their donations are very timid. We get donations from UK, France, New Zealand, ASTI, and Australian High Commission, among others. We are working to involve the Pakistani diaspora in Dubai, France and England. Still we really need the contribution of local people. We are ready to provide the donors with all the information about our organization just to make sure that they are donating for the right cause and for right organization.

Social Bridges: Do you think that your efforts have brought some positive changes in the mindsets? Also what about the role of the government?

Valerie: The very first change is that the acid victims now know that there is an entity out there that will help them medically, legally as well as socially. Also the perception that the people are now getting more and more aware of the issue and they want to do something about it.

As far as Pakistani government, they turned a blind eye to the issue but our efforts have got them realized what the magnanimity of the issue is. They are now very cooperative and helpful. We are now demanding that acid attacks should be considered as a crime under law. If I refer to fight violence against women I am of the opinion that acid attacks should be incorporated as violence against women so that the perpetrators can be punished.

Social Bridges: Let’s come to the reasons. What is the reason behind the growing incidents of acid attacks or we have got more reporting now?

Valerie: It would be very presumptuous to reach any conclusion. As there is no proper study and survey of the acid victims so we don’t know the actual numbers. Still I think this is a mindset which forces people to resort to these kind of heinous crimes. Acid attacks are not just common to Pakistan but are also abundant in India, Vietnam, Cambodia and so many other countries. Let me tell you that UNIFEM is conducting a workshop in October on this issue and we are hoping to conduct a comprehensive survey of acid attacks.

Let’s also not forget the fact that acid is readily available at throw away prices in Pakistan and there is no control. Unless and until we control the acid trade and regularize it, we can’t expect any big changes.

Social Bridges: Why Pakistani corporate sector is not sponsoring your efforts?

Valerie: There is a very simple explanation that we haven’t got the tax exemption yet and Pakistani corporate sector is reluctant to join hands with those who don’t have the tax exemption.

We are also not getting enough donations from the individuals although Pakistan has got plenty of rich people. We have this Zakat duties and other stuff where people can donate a lot.

Social Bridges: What about the role of the media if you are looking to spread mass awareness?

Valerie: We have a vibrant awareness media campaign involving participation in radio and TV shows, giving interviews and writing of articles in both the national and international press. Still we think that the government has a larger role to play in creating awareness.

Social Bridges: Most of the acid victims come from backward and far flung areas but your center is in Islamabad. Do you have any plans to venture out to those areas as well?

Valerie: That’s an issue. As you know that the surgical procedures are very complex and enough medical facilities are not available in most of the cities. I know that many surgeons in those areas will be more than eager to work with us but they charge very high for these surgeries which we can’t afford.

As far as expansion in other areas is concerned, we are planning to set up a network of first aid centers in Karachi, Multan and other areas of Pakistan but the surgical procedures will be carried out in Islamabad. We are also facing this issue where the surgeons are not ready to work with us on subsidized rates and we can’t afford their fees.

Social Bridges: What about collaboration with other organizations doing the same work like Smile Again?

Valerie: We commend their efforts but we have different policies from them. However, we are working with many local NGOs like Aurat Foundation and Rozen which are very active in the backward areas and hence enable us to contact and help out the local victims.

Social Bridges: Do you also provide financial assistance to the victims like micro credit facility or related stuff?

Valerie: We are currently providing micro credit loans in just three cases. We are planning to expand our scope in helping the victims to set up their business etc.

Social Bridges: What are the future plans and projects?

Valerie: We need to set up a nursing and rehabilitation center in Islamabad. We want the government to give us some place in Islamabad for that purpose as the rents are very high here. If they can build some basic structure for us then we will able to expand our operations. We also want the government to enact and also enforce laws that can curtail the ratio of acid attacks.

Social Bridges: Any final comments?

Valerie: I just want to say that I am very happy that Pakistani government is now planning to enact laws against acid attacks. I am confident that the efforts of the Pakistani government and Pakistani people will one day wipe out this disease of acid attacks from this country.

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