Chorley Khukha Welfare Association (CKWA) has been recently established by the help of Khukha residents of Chorley, Lancashire, UK and mainly by the efforts of Yaqoob Illahi son of Karram Illahi (Late). Although most of our associations are funded by the community of Khukha, the organisers has managed to get all funding from "Merseyside community foundation." The formal opening ceremony of CKWA was held on 29th of July in Chorley Town Hall, UK. The committee of CKWA consists of;

• » Yaqoob Illahi
  » Zubair Shafique
  » Shakeel Ahmed
  » Saddique Ahmed
  » Ishfaaq Ahmed
  » Mrs Nusrat Illahi
  » Mrs Somia Shehbaz

• »Chairman
  »Secretary
  »Treasurer
  »Member
  »Member
  »Member
  »Member

The main aim of this association is to get younger Khukha community together through the means of sports. Since 1969 Khukha community have been playing a football match every Sunday in Leyland. However, CKWA has managed to organise this weekly Football match on an all weather pitch at Holly Cross School ground in Chorley. Between 30 to 35 players turn up every week of all ages from many different towns and cities including Liverpool, Manchester, Blackburn, Oldham, Bolton, Leyland, Preston and Chorley. The facilities provided so far include:

• » Fully paid all weather football pitch
  » Coloured shirts for both teams including children
  » Safe and Secure Car parking
  » Free chilled drinks for all players
  » First aid Facility

These sporting events organised by CKWA provide an ideal opportunity for everyone to meet each others and make new friends and an ideal oppertunity for our younger community to learn more about Khukha, enhance their social skills as well as develop their sporting talent. This obviously helps to build their self confidence through regular sports participation.

CKWA aims to organise this weekly Football match in winter as it has never been possible when it was previously played on a grass park pitch in Leyland. CKWA future plan includes organising further regular sporting events such as Badminton and Cricket matches.

At the opening ceremony, there were about 300 people of Khukha from all over the UK. Guests included children and women and the main guests were;

Lindsay Hoyle – MP Chorley
Terry Brown – Deputy Mayer
Hasina Khan – Councilor
Saif-ur-Rehman – Consulate of Pakistan Manchester

Ceremony was officially started by Talawat by Atique Ahmed son of Molana Bashir Ahmed Siaalvi (Late) followed by a Naat by his brother Saeed Ahmed. Haji Ghulam Kousar of Natain now living in Preston UK was the stage secretary. The chairman, Yaqoob Illahi son of Karram Illahi (Late) made a speech to welcome and thank all the guests for their kind attendance. Zaffar Ali son of Haji Deewan Ali gave a presentation describing Chorley Khukha Welfare Association aims and future plans. Haji Mohammad Arshad son of Haji Subedaar Mohammed Ashraf from Bolton also made a speech. Barrister Mohammad Afzal son of Molvi Noor-ul-Hassan (Late) from London spoke about the background of Khukha and its history and mainly about academic achievements of Khukha community. Saif-ur-Rehman from Manchester consulate also outlined the key role of Pakistan consulate to serve Pakistan community. The ceremony was concluded by serving delicious Pakistani style meal to everyone. Below are a few photographs taken by Zaffar Ali.