PAKISTANIS living in Swindon are calling for a dedicated community centre as they do not have anywhere suitable to hold funeral gatherings or wedding celebrations.

The Pakistani Welfare Association is drawing up a business plan to help it raise the cash to get a town centre base.

The group, which supports more than 1,000 people from Pakistan in the town, is run from members' homes.

Secretary Muhammed Salas Khan said: "Our community is suffering because we don't have a centre where we can hold our social activities. We want to achieve a positive and peaceful life for our people.

"People have been living here for a long time and they like Swindon, but to be honest, there is no facility or resources for our people.

"Our people have these facilities in other towns in the UK."

Mr Khan, who was awarded the MBE in the 2003 New Year's Honours list, said a centre is desperately needed to hold general meetings, mark Islamic religious festivals and organise indoor games for children.

A community centre is sorely missed during special dates in the Islamic calendar as, often, public halls are unavailable he said.

"When funerals and weddings take place, we have nowhere to meet. We want to organise a birthday celebration for Muhammed, but we have no place."

Mr Khan also proposes the establishment of a kitchen in the community centre to prepare special Halal food in the specific way required by Muslims.

He believes the centre could then supply the food to schools and the council to cater for the community.

A library and an art exhibition area are also being put forward as possible uses for the sought after community centre.

Mr Khan said local politicians support the Pakistani Welfare Association's pleas for premises that people from the country can call their own.

"We have met local MPs and they are sympathetic to us," he said.

The association hopes to secure a grant from the National Lottery and plans to have a business plan with estimated costs ready by the end of April.

The Swindon Voluntary Action Group is helping the association draw up the plan, as the Pakistani organisation has to start fundraising from scratch.

Mr Khan said: "We haven't received any funding so far.

"The council know about our needs and they say they will offer expertise to help us."