Charity is alive and well in Pakistan

[wondergurl]

I recently came across this and it was so refreshing to read something so positive and uplifting about Pakistan and Pakistanis.

onPhilanthropy: Articles: Indigenous Philanthropy: Poorer Nations Also Give

Indigenous Philanthropy: Poorer Nations Also Give
By: Susan Raymond, Ph.D., 01/25/02

Much is made, and rightly so, of the fundamental philanthropic streak that runs through American culture. Much is also increasingly made of growing philanthropic organizational infrastructure in other industrialized nations, as well as foundations within industrialized nations (e.g., the Grameen Foundation USA) focused on resource transfers to developing nations. **What is less appreciated is the degree to which philanthropy is alive and well, in some cases amazingly so, even in the poor nations of the world.
**

There is no central data source for global giving that would allow rigorous analysis to be made. Case material is available, however, and it provides a hint at the degree of current giving within developing nations. It suggests that the forest is indeed much bigger than previous tree-counts would suggest.

**In October of 2000, for example, the Aga Khan Foundation and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) organized a Conference on Indigenous Philanthropy held in Islamabad, Pakistan. Included in that conference was a report on the first ever National Survey of Individual Giving in Pakistan conducted in 1998. The household survey resulted in an estimate of the monetized value of individual cash gifts and voluntarism in Pakistan of 70 billion rupees. This does not include corporate or other organizational giving.

** At January 2002 exchange rates, that individual giving totals a whopping $1.165 billion. This, be assured, is not loose change out of Pakistan’s top drawer. It means that an average Pakistani makes philanthropic contributions of $8.63 per year out of personal income/time. With a per capita income of $460 per year, that, in turn, means the average Pakistani gave 1.9% of personal income in 1998, or MORE THAN the average 1999 American’s cash giving of 1.8%.

:eek: so according to this Pakistanis outnumbered Americans in giving charity (per capita), at least in 1999 :jhanda: now the question is, if philanthropy is about social welfare and change, why don’t we see its impact in Pakistani society? or do we? Pakistanis are notorious for cheating on taxes but is this another form of giving back, directly to the disadvantaged?

[wondergurl]

Re: Charity is alive and well in Pakistan

what…no comments? even though its a slightly older article, i thought it was interesting, since generally we have the perception of Pakistanis back home being ‘beyhis’ (selfish) and not willing to change the circumstances around them (discussed a lot on this forum as well) anyways i’m happy to see that the spirit of giving, empathy and communal well-being is not extinct, as generally perceived.

[zobia]

Re: Charity is alive and well in Pakistan

yep, we give charity and in a large sum. but not to the ones who really need em.

u can always find scenarios where ppl have done Haj and Umra on charity money. :)

ps. we are not a poor nation cuz we dont have resources, but cuz we are dishonest.

[firenze]

@wondergurl

now the question is, if philanthropy is about social welfare and change, why don't we see its impact in Pakistani society? or do we? Pakistanis are notorious for cheating on taxes but is this another form of giving back, directly to the disadvantaged?

Zakat plays a huge rule in 1.65bn$ ..

Charity mainly goes on sect/political basics, it's a tradition in Faisalabad to give away money to religious organization, Jihaid-e-Kashmir, Taliban's ,.banned organizations, .. the point is most of the charity is given for Islam .. but in west charity groups or people invest in projects of economical/social development.. which has long term effects ... like Bill & Melenda Foundation, Ford's ,, Rockefeller.. ... etc etc..

I had a fight with dad two years ago on this issue, now at least my family totally refrain from giving any money to religious organizations !

[wondergurl]

Re: Charity is alive and well in Pakistan

yep, we give charity and in a large sum. but not to the ones who really need em.

u can always find scenarios where ppl have done Haj and Umra on charity money. :)

ps. we are not a poor nation cuz we dont have resources, but cuz we are dishonest.

you are right, with such huge sums of money involved, i am sure the abuses are rampant too. so it seems here that giving is not the problem but rather who or what you are giving to...charities like the Eidhi Foundation, Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, Zindagi trust, HDF etc are being run mainly on these donations from the people directly, and considering that running these charities require millions, it is safe to say some of it is going in the right hands.

[wondergurl]

Re: Charity is alive and well in Pakistan

Zakat plays a huge rule in 1.65bn$ ..

Charity mainly goes on sect/political basics, it's a tradition in Faisalabad to give away money to religious organization, Jihaid-e-Kashmir, Taliban's ,.banned organizations, .. the point is most of the charity is given for Islam .. but in west charity groups or people invest in projects of economical/social development.. which has long term effects ... like Bill & Melenda Foundation, Ford's ,, Rockefeller.. ... etc etc..

I had a fight with dad two years ago on this issue, now at least my family totally refrain from giving any money to religious organizations !

very true, as the article goes on to say:

"As an Islamic state, much of Pakistan's individual giving is probably in response to the charitable dictates of Islam. On the other hand, much of America's individual giving is also to religion. American adults give 77% of their philanthropic dollars to churches"

i guess the churches probably end up doing much more for the community here than our own religious organizations back home. it seems the spirit of giving is there but it is being misguided and misused to some extent.