friendly, chemical-free solution to kitchen gardening and sending a candid message to pursue what is "Pure & Permissible", the Halalan Thoyyiban Campaign conducted by Focus Saudi in association with LuLu Group had a befitting closing ceremony at their Brand New LuLu Hypermarket premise in Dammam. Saudi Ministry of Agriculture officials Tariq Al Mulhim, Director General of Agriculture, Muhammed Yateem, Outreach Manager and Zaky Al Abbas, Outreach In Charge watered the symbolic plant as a mark of appreciation to this organic effort and inaugurated the event. Tariq Al-Mulhim then addressed the audience. The Saplings were distributed through the 6 LuLu Hypermarket outlets. From the approximately 400 participants registered for the contest, winners were selected by Focus Judging Team who carried out house visits and graded their efforts. The top three winners from each area Dammam, Al-Khobar and Jubail were awarded by LuLu Group. The First, second and Third prize winners were respectively as follows: For Dammam area Mohammad Bassam Zafar (Syria), Abdul GafoorParappil (India) and Mohammad Yousuf Al-Hamza (Palestine), for Al-Khobar area Saleena (India), Mathew Francis (India) and Rasheeda Abdullah (Malaysia) and for Jubail area, SakeerTharayil (India), Reena Chacko (India), K.P. Promod walked away with the top Prizes. Dr. Ismail Maritheri, from Jeddah King Abdul Aziz University, addressed the gathering on the topic "Health and Healthy Food". The basic premise of Healthy Living is to create a habit of healthy food choices through eco-friendly, chemical free cultivation. The interactive session stressed the need for our new generation to have active hands on interaction with soil through localized farming initiatives and kitchen garden would be a good place to start. Within the realm of this Middle East expat lifestyle the green initiatives from Focus Saudi to influence our eco friendly choices and the support extended by LuLu Group is both exemplary and unprecedented. It is worth noting that the inspiration to Focus Saudi for conducting such a relevant and timely Campaign comes from teachings of the Holy Quran. ‘Green Moments' a short documentary chronicling the various stages of this campaign was also presented at the event. Awards were presented by Abdul Basheer (Regional Director LuLu Group Eastern Province), Salam O.S (Regional Manager) Hashim (Commercial Manager Lulu Hyper Market), Mohammad (Purchasing Manager Lulu Hyper Market), Rizwin Razak (Purchasing Manager Lulu Hyper Market), AnsarKadalundi (CEO Focus Dammam), Muhammad Rafi (CEO Focus Khobar) and Abdul Rasheed Kaipakkil (CEO Focus Jubail). Other Focus representatives including Mohammed Yusuf, Chief Organizational adviser, Focus Saudi; and A.K Navas, Kichen Garden contest, Judgment team member; and SajidPalath, addmin manager, Focus Saudi, also graced the prize distribution event. The launch of Eco-Focus, the latest initiative of Focus Saudi was yet another highlight of the event. Zain-ulAbideen, Advisory Board Chairman, Saudi Indian Islahi Centre, declared the launch of Team Eco-Focus and announced the focal points from each area. Focus Saudi COO Shabeer Velladath introduced Focus, its intend and its initiatives, during the event. Dammam International Indian School Management Committee Chairman Mohammad Abdul Waris, Management Committee member Rasheed Omar, and Principal Dr. E.K. Mohammad Shafi addressed the audience. On behalf of LuLu Group, General Manager Mohammad Shamnas, LuLu Dammam, managed the event. Focus office bearers Shamsad Muhammed, Abdullah P.K. Mujeeb Rahman Tayyil, Jamal Mohammad, Farooq Irikkur, Fawaz NV, Shenil and FawazIllikkal , among others, coordinated the event. — SG
