UK

By our City reporter:
In 2026, the UK government is facilitating homeownership for first-time buyers through a permanent Mortgage Guarantee Scheme enabling 95% loans (5% deposit), the First Homes scheme offering 30-50% price discounts in England, and Stamp Duty relief on homes up to £300,000. These initiatives aim to reduce deposit barriers and speed up transactions.
Key 2026 Initiatives for First-Time Buyers:
Permanent Mortgage Guarantee Scheme: Launched in July 2025, this scheme supports 91-95% loan-to-value mortgages across the UK, allowing purchases with only a 5% deposit.

Bureau Report Mansehra:
Honoured guests Brother Ishaq and Sister Asma Khan, who arrived from the United Kingdom, paid a special visit to Al Mustafa Hospital in Dhodial, Mansehra, where they reviewed the medical and welfare services being provided to local communities.
During their visit, the guests toured various departments of the hospital and observed the functioning of clinical and support units. They met with staff members and appreciated the dedication and professionalism of the Al Mustafa Welfare Trust team, acknowledging their commitment to delivering accessible healthcare and humanitarian support.
Brother Ishaq and Sister Asma Khan expressed satisfaction over the quality of services and the organised management of the facility, noting that such initiatives play an important role in supporting underserved populations.
The visit concluded with a heart-warming ceremony in which gifts were distributed among children, bringing smiles and joy to young patients and their families. Representatives of Al Mustafa Welfare Trust thanked the visiting guests for their encouragement and continued support for welfare initiatives.
The visit reflects the growing collaboration between overseas supporters and local humanitarian organisations working to improve health and social services in the region.

Ijaz Ahmed Malhi:
Manchester:
City Vice President of PTI Manchester, Javed Mumtaz Chatha, has returned after performing Umrah. He stayed in Saudi Arabia for 12 days, where he performed the religious rituals. Chairman Al Mustafa, Abdul Razzaq Sajid, met him and congratulated him on the blessed journey. Meanwhile, a dinner was hosted in his honour at Butt Karahi on Wilmslow Road, Those who attended the event included Asif Butt, Asim Zabihullah, Rao Talha Rana, Raheel Azhar Khan and Qaiser Nadeem Butt, who also congratulated him on performing Umrah.

Bureau Report:
Manchester:
Khatam Sharif for Sughra Bibi, who passed away in Jhelum, Pakistan last month, was organised at Central Masjid, Victoria Park. She was the mother of Haroon Afzal Khattana of Madina Property and Chairman of the Pakistani Community Centre Manchester, and Muhammad Farooq. A large number of people from business, political, social and other walks of life attended the condolence gathering. Prominent people present on the occasion included Chairman Al Mustafa Abdul Razzaq Sajid, MP Afzal Khan, Aneel Musarat, Cllr Rab Nawaz Akbar, Cllr Abid Chohan, Cllr Naeemul Hassan, Cllr Shahbaz Sarwar, Akhtar Malwana, Javed Chattha, Asif Butt, Malik Imran Khalil, Shahzad Bashir Arain, Dr Younas Parwaz, Hammad Raza Khan, Javed Iqbal of Sapphire Restaurant, MK Sheikh, Tahir Ch, Dr Yasir, Shahzad Mirza, Wasim Ch of DM TV, and others.

Tajammul Gurmani:
Manchester:
Kashmir Solidarity Day was observed across the UK. The Kashmiri and Pakistani community organised programmes in this connection. The Consulate General of Pakistan in Manchester also organised an event at My Nawab, Stockport, Manchester. Prominent Kashmiri leaders, Members of Parliament and a large number of British Pakistanis attended the event. The prominent speakers who addressed the occasion included Consul General of Pakistan Imtiaz Feroz Gondal, MP Afzal Khan, MP Debby Abraham, MP Conor Rand, Lord Wajid Khan, Raja Najabat Hussain, Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, Cllr Shoukat Ali, Cllr Syeda Urooj Shah, Cllr Shahbaz Arif, Cllr Faisal Rana, and others.
Addressing the Kashmir Solidarity Day event, Consul General of Pakistan Imtiaz Feroz Gondal said “The Kashmiri people are not alone. Their struggle is our struggle, their pain is our pain, and their dream of freedom is our dream. Pakistan will continue to raise their voice on every platform until the dawn of freedom breaks over the boundaries of Jammu and Kashmir.” He further said that for over seven decades, India has turned Jammu and Kashmir into an open prison, with over 900,000 Indian troops deployed across the region. More than eight million Kashmiris are forced to live in a state of perpetual confinement within their own homeland. Their daily lives are marked by fear, surveillance and systemic oppression. Despite decades of brutal suppression, the spirit of the Kashmiri people remains unbroken. He added that Pakistan will continue its diplomatic efforts, advocating for a peaceful solution of the Kashmir issue.

Lord Wajid Khan said that Kashmir is a very important issue for him. He stated that he was present to show solidarity with the people of Kashmir and said that it is a very important issue for British Kashmiris. He promised to continue efforts in Parliament for the Kashmiri people and praised Consul General Imtiaz Feroz Gondal for organising the event. On his appeal, participants observed a one-minute silence on the occasion.
MP Afzal Khan said that the struggle of the Kashmiri people will not go in vain and that they will celebrate their freedom day very soon. He said that war is not the solution and that India will give the right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir, which he described as the only solution for peace in South Asia. He urged that it is the responsibility of the British government to intervene in the issue and help resolve it, as the world cannot afford a war between Pakistan and India.

Tajammul Gurmani:
Birmingham:
Al Mustafa Welfare Trust organised a charity fundraising dinner at the Grand Botanical Birmingham. The event was hosted by Faraz Yousafzai and was attended by many prominent personalities. Those present included Chairman Abdul Razzaq Sajid, Al Mustafa CEO Rizwana Latif, MD Sadaf Javed, Nisar Ahmed, Muhammad Musab, Farwa Fatima, Wajahat Ali Khan, Adil Parkar from Al Falah Masjid, Muhammad Hussain Khatak, Hassan Javed and others. The evening also featured performances by Atif Nawaz, Aliyah Umm Raiyaan and Saif Adam. Speaking on the occasion, Atif Nawaz praised the work of Al Mustafa Welfare Trust and said the organisation is doing excellent humanitarian work around the world. He urged people to support the charity and said it was a wonderful event held in Birmingham. Aliyah Umm Raiyaan shared her personal journey, stating that she accepted Islam at a young age while living in East London. She said she later performed Umrah with her Muslim sisters. She stressed the importance of giving charity, Zakat and Sadaqah to Al Mustafa Welfare Trust, h ighlighting that the organisation is actively involved in relief work worldwide. She said that Sadaqah purifies the soul, heart and wealth, and that charity does not decrease wealth. She emphasised the need to establish hospitals, mosques and other charitable projects, and encouraged people to support those in need before Ramadan. She invited everyone to show mercy to others. During the event, Al Mustafa Trust presented various fundraising projects, including mosque construction, clean drinking water schemes, cataract-free eye camps, Hifz programmes, orphan sponsorship and the Gaza food pack project. Faraz Yousafzai said that Al Mustafa Welfare Trust has restored the eyesight of hundreds of thousands of people across the globe. He added that he personally visited several eye camps organised by the charity. He further said that the organisation has constructed hundreds of mosques and is sponsoring a large number of children for memorising the Holy Quran. During the charity appeal, attendees donated generously towards the humanitarian projects. Participants also listened to a Nasheed by Saif Adam. A three-course meal was served, and the event concluded with special duas for all those who attended the charity dinner.
Earlier, another charity fundraising dinner was also held at The Madisson in Bradford. The event was attended by Qari Niaz Golarvi, Qurban Hussain from Makkah Mosque Leeds, Hafiz Ijaz from Masjid Milat-e-Islamia, Maulana Raja Sajid Mehmood Zia Frashvi, along with a large number of local community members.