A new study reveals that Pakistan is one of the most charitable nations. It contributes more than one percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to charity, the Stanford Social Innovation Review reported. Pakistan comes into the ranks of far wealthier countries like the United Kingdom (1.3 percent GDP to charity) and Canada (1.2 percent of GDP), and stand around twice what India gives to those in need as a percentage of its GDP.
Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy shows that Pakistanis give around Rs240 billion (more than $2 billion) annually to charity. The report indicates that about 98 percent of people in the country give in one form or another. Zakat, Sadaqa, and Fitra are given to the downtrodden people.
To encourage more institutional giving, organizations have to ensure transparency and accountability, thereby mitigating the trust deficit of givers, the report added.
While civil society organizations need to expand their fundraising networks among the general public, efforts should also be made to inform people that giving to organizations may have greater impact than giving to individuals, the report concluded
Province Wise Donations
Balochistan stands out with 90 percent of respondents preferring individuals as recipients for their giving. Balochistan is the least developed province of Pakistan. Charitable organizations in Balochistan are less established and have gained less public trust that ones in the more developed provinces.
Punjab and Balochistan give in-kind donations to individuals at almost equal rates and both provinces give slightly more than Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).
In Balochistan, where more people fall in low- and middle-income groups as compared to KPK and Punjab, around 90 per cent of philanthropy goes to individuals.
According to the research, there are four major reasons Pakistanis prefer giving to individuals over socially minded organizations. Compassion plays an important part in this aspect. Cash donations are most frequently made in small amounts and on a regular basis. Needy individuals are the prime beneficiaries of this type of donation. These individuals are also easily accessible, while organizations require more planning on the part of the donor. Many organizations have not yet developed the requisite infrastructure to collect small donations.
Religious institutions are set up to collect small donations. Religious institutions such as mosques and madrassahs likely get the bulk of giving that goes to organizations. Collecting small donations, in the form of door-to-door campaigns, donation boxes placed at counters of shopping outlets is clearly visible. Fear of misuse and lack of impact play a strategic role in discouraging people from donating to organizations.
Mosques and madrassahs are more trusted than civil society organizations. Therefore they receive the lion’s share of donations that flow to organizations.
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Wealth Influence
Wealth positively influenced the giving priorities of people who responded as giving to both individuals and organizations. People in lower income groups have fraternal ties with needy individuals. They may have less familiarity with charitable organizations.
People with high incomes often have direct connections with foundations and other charitable organizations.
Pakistanis donate around Rs554 billion annually Pakistanis are a generous people, as the practice of giving is nearly universal. Proximity and reputation are the two main factors that encourage people to donate to any one organization.
A leading Islamic charity has put Allah at the heart of its pre-Ramazan campaign aimed at inviting donations from members of public of all faiths and none to help who are less fortunate and needy. Islamic Relief charity’s pre-Ramazan campaign message for 2018 is ‘For the love of Allah, save a life now’ which has been placed on public transport in London, Manchester and Glasgow to encourage Muslims to think of those less fortunate than themselves and help them in a positive way. The advertisement is to encourage Muslims to think of people who are less fortunate than themselves during this Ramazan and to be motivated out of love and compassion to help them. It is to raise awareness of the international humanitarian aid organization and its work across the world.
Judith Escribano, Islamic Relief UK’s Head of Communications, explained the thinking behind the campaign: Ramadan is a time of self-discipline and self-sacrifice, a period for Muslims to reflect and show compassion for those who are less fortunate than us. “We have chosen bus advertising in cities with large Muslim populations as this is a cost-effective way to get our fundraising appeal noticed.”
The advertisement’s message is simply a reminder to give glory to Allah, both for the opportunity to do good to others in this most blessed of months, and for the generosity of all those who have enabled Islamic Relief to assist more than 117 million people in over 40 countries over 34-year history.
Millions of men, women and children face a daily struggle for survival due to famine, disasters and conflict. Muslims can help them by donating their zakat to Islamic relief as, with your funds and our expertise, we can help some of the poorest and most marginalized people in the world.
Donations Around The World
USA, New Zealand and Canada top list of world’s most generous nations. The UK topped all other European countries studied for charitable donations as a percentage of GDP. USA has been named as the world’s most generous nation in the world, where its citizens give the most to charity, according to a new report.
The USA, New Zealand and Canada have the highest rate of charitable donations as a percentage gross domestic product (GDP), the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) found.
The UK had the fourth highest rate of charitable donations in a study of 24 nations and topped all other EU countries that were looked at.
CAF’s report took data from countries accounting for around 75 per cent of global GDP and 53 percent of the world population. Charitable giving by individuals as a percentage of GDP in USA was recorded at 1.44 percent New Zealand at 0.79 percent, in Canada at 0.77 percent and in the UK which came fourth globally at 0.54 percent.