An Evening in Drammen: Iftikhar Thakur and Junaid Saleem Raise Funds for the Alfalah Student Scholarship

On the evening of Thursday, 11 September 2026, a hall at Solsvingen 90 in Drammen filled up with people who had come for one reason: to make sure a student somewhere in Pakistan does not have to walk away from their education.

Alkhidmat Europe hosted the evening in support of the Alfalah Student Scholarship programme, and two guests from Pakistan carried the night: Iftikhar Thakur, the stage performer and comedian whose name needs no introduction in any Pakistani household, and Junaid Saleem, the television host and actor known across the country for his wit and his warmth.

Both of them spoke. Both of them held the room. And by the end of the night, the audience had turned that feeling into something concrete.

Why Drammen, and why now

Drammen has one of the largest Pakistani communities in Norway. It is a city where the first generation arrived to work and the third generation is now finishing university — which is exactly why the message of the evening landed the way it did.

The people in that hall know what access to education is worth, because many of them are the direct result of it.

Back in Pakistan, the picture is different. Financial pressure remains the single biggest reason talented students drop out. Not ability. Not ambition. Money. The Alfalah Scholarship Scheme was founded in 1998 in Kharian, District Gujrat, on precisely that observation, and it has since supported the higher education of thousands of students across the country.

Alkhidmat Europe carries that work forward in Norway and across Europe. The programme builds on the legacy of Alfalah Norge, now integrated into Alkhidmat Europe, and connects donors here with students there through a trusted "adopt-a-student" model. You can read more about how the organisation is structured and governed on the About Us page.

The host: Ch. Raza Anwer Warrich

The programme was hosted by Ch. Raza Anwer Warrich of Drammen Bolig AS, who opened the evening, introduced the guests, and guided the audience through the appeal.

Hosting a fundraising evening is not a ceremonial role. It means holding the room's attention between the laughter and the serious business of asking people to give — and doing it in a way that feels like an invitation rather than a demand. Ch. Raza Anwer Warrich did exactly that, and the response from the floor reflected it.

Iftikhar Thakur: laughter, and then something heavier

Anyone who has watched Pakistani stage theatre knows what Iftikhar Thakur does to a crowd. He had them from the first minute.

But the part people kept talking about afterwards was not the comedy. It was the turn — the moment he set the timing aside and spoke plainly about what it means for a child with real ability to be told there is no money for school. He spoke about the students, about the families who carry that disappointment quietly, and about what a few hundred kroner a month actually changes on the other end.

The room went quiet. Then it opened its wallets.

Junaid Saleem: a case made carefully

Junaid Saleem followed with a very different register. As a television programme host, he is used to building an argument in front of an audience, and that is what he did.

He framed education not as charity but as investment — in individual futures, and in the country those students will go on to build. He spoke about the responsibility that comes with having made it out, and about what the diaspora in Norway is uniquely placed to do.

Both speeches complemented each other, and both moved the audience. Several attendees signed up for monthly sponsorships before they left the hall.

What the Alfalah Scholarship actually does

For readers who came across this post without knowing the programme, here is what your contribution supports.

Merit- and need-based scholarships. Students from lower-income households who are performing academically receive support across three levels: high school and intermediate, technical and vocational programmes, and university education including medicine, engineering, and the social sciences. Many current scholars are studying at Pakistan's leading institutions, including NUST and UET.

Adopt-a-student sponsorship. Sponsorship starts at roughly NOK 200–400 per month. As a sponsor, you receive a profile of the student you support, regular performance reports, and a final report when they graduate. Sponsor a student here.

Mentoring, not just money. The programme provides counselling, moral training, career guidance, and annual conventions that bring scholars together from across Pakistan.

The numbers so far. More than 5,000 students supported since 1998. Over 1,000 active students currently receiving aid. Alumni now working as doctors, engineers, and teachers. Norwegian donors alone support hundreds of scholars every year.

There is also a short film about the programme that is worth ten minutes of your time.

Where your money goes, and how you can check

Alkhidmat Europe is a member of Innsamlingskontrollen (the Norwegian Fundraising Control) and the Frivilligregister, organisation number 915 487 440. You can verify the registration directly at Innsamlingskontrollen's register.

More detail on how administrative costs are kept down is available in this post on transparency and efficiency, and reporting on programme outcomes is published on the Insights page.

Other ways to support Alkhidmat Europe

The Alfalah Scholarship is one of several active programmes. If your priority lies elsewhere, these are open too:

• Sponsor an Orphan in Pakistan
• Street Children Pakistan
• Clean Water Pakistan
• Sponsor a Student in Uganda
• Sponsor Gaza Orphans
• Gaza Relief Fund
• Palestinian Students Fund
• Zakat

The full list is on the Projects page.

Host an event in your own city

Evenings like the one in Drammen do not happen without local people willing to organise them. If you are part of a community group, a mosque, a business, or a student association anywhere in Norway or Europe and you would like to host a fundraising programme, Alkhidmat Europe will help you plan it.

Start with the Partnership page or write directly through Contact Us. The office is at Østmarkveien 27, 0687 Oslo.

Thank you

To Iftikhar Thakur and Junaid Saleem, who travelled from Pakistan and gave the evening its energy. To Ch. Raza Anwer Warrich and Drammen Bolig AS for hosting. To the volunteers who set up the hall and stayed until the chairs were stacked. And above all to every person in Drammen who committed to a student they will probably never meet.

A scholarship is a small, unglamorous thing. It is also, for the person receiving it, the difference between a degree and a closed door.

Sponsor a student in Pakistan today →

Frequently asked questions

What is the Alfalah Student Scholarship?

‍It is a merit- and need-based scholarship programme supporting students in Pakistan from intermediate level through university, including medicine and engineering. It has supported more than 5,000 students since 1998. Full programme details here.

How much does it cost to sponsor a student?

‍Sponsorship starts at approximately NOK 200–400 per month, depending on the student's level of study.

Who was the event in Drammen for?

‍The event on 11 September 2026 at Solsvingen 90, Drammen was organised by Alkhidmat Europe to raise funds for the Alfalah Student Scholarship, with special guests Iftikhar Thakur and Junaid Saleem from Pakistan.

Is Alkhidmat Europe a registered charity in Norway?

‍Yes. Organisation number 915 487 440, registered with Innsamlingskontrollen and the Frivilligregister. Verify here.

Can I sponsor a student using Zakat?

‍Education sponsorship for eligible students can qualify. Contact the team to confirm for your specific case, or see the Zakat page.

Where can I read about other Alkhidmat Europe events?

‍On the Alkhidmat Europe blog page.