Pakistan

Introduction to Pakistan

Pakistan is a country located in South Asia with a population of 220 million, making it the world’s fifth most populous country. It boasts the world’s second largest Muslim population, oldest and largest civilizations, the youngest Nobel Laureate, infamous mountain ranges, largest ambulance service, and more.

Over the past decade, Pakistan has made great strides in improving gender inequality. Yet one in three people still live in poverty and the country hosts 1.7 million refugees. Pakistan continues to suffer from decades of internal political disputes, terrorism, and an increase in natural disasters.

In recent years, Pakistan has been impacted by numerous earthquakes, droughts and floods, leaving more than 1.2 million people in need of healthcare services, 1.1 million in need of WASH assistance, and 1.2 million in need of shelter.

Recent monsoon rains damaged food crops, leaving uncultivable land that affects farmers planting for the following season. The loss of agricultural profits greatly affects women as they are the main pickers of crops damaged by the rain. Reconstruction costs, as a result of recurring natural disasters, are placing an increasing burden on Pakistan’s already fragile economy.

Why do the people of Pakistan need your support?

For people across Pakistan, life is incredibly challenging:

• Over 2 million people in Pakistan live below the national poverty line (World Bank, 2020)
• There are 829,000 newly displaced Pakistanis as a result of natural disasters (iDMC, 2020)
• 21.7 million people do not have access to clean water while 69 million people don’t have a decent toilet (Water Aid)
• There are more than 4.6 million orphan children in Pakistan and the majority of this population is below the age of 17 (UNICEF)

Islamic Relief in Pakistan

Islamic Relief started its work in Pakistan in 1992 with child welfare and protection programs. Ever since, we have established a main office in Islamabad and operate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, Azad Jammu, Kashmir, and Balochistan to provide emergency relief and sustainable development support.

As a result of our decades of work in improving the lives of vulnerable Pakistanis, the government of Pakistan awarded Islamic Relief with a humanitarian award.

Our current work in Pakistan addresses natural disasters, climate change, food insecurity, poor socioeconomic development, child safeguarding, women empowerment and the lack of safe water and hygiene practices. Here are some of the key areas in which we work:

Responding to Earthquakes and Ongoing Climate Change in Harnai, Balochistan

• Constructing earthquake-resistant homes, village centers, and educating the population on green construction processes.
• Distributing shelter kits and cash programming, rehabilitating water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.
• Increasing drought resilience through water use efficiency and indigenous and sustainable access to food security, with a focus on women and girls.

Climate Resilience in Kashmir

• Protecting biodiversity by promoting indigenous disaster risk reduction practices, planting 67,000 wild trees, establishing 10 fruit orchards, and constructing 6 dams.
• Additional focus on policy and advocacy by engaging with media, academia and representatives on climate change issues.

Empowering Women in North Waziristan

• Ensuring socio-economic sustainability and increasing community resilience.
• Improving food security by establishing nurseries, supporting and training farming cooperatives, and equipping women farmers with market-based skill development, kitchen gardening resources, poultry, and livestock.
• Establishing environmentally conscious water technology through rainwater harvesting ponds and irrigation structures.

Orphan and Widows Empowerment in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Muzaffarabad

• Improving the socio-economic conditions of widowed families through livelihood support, healthcare, psychosocial support, education and social empowerment.

Empowering Women in Kashmir through Water and Livelihood Initiatives

• We are implementing nurseries, orchards, poultry farming and more to ensure women’s participation in income generation.
• This project aims to install water purification solutions to minimize risky water collection amongst women and girls, as well as facilitate their safe hygiene practices.

Your donations in action

Kira Imran is a 45 year old mother of 4 kids whose family’s income generation has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Her family’s dire situation and inability to meet basic needs was identified by Islamic Relief.

She now receives tailoring training from Islamic Relief’s funded skill centre, which empowers widows and women in need. With this skill training, Kira provides tailoring services to her community and generates income. Her daughter, Asma, also receives support through the Orphan Sponsorship Program.

During the month of Ramadan, Islamic Relief distributed food packages to Kira’s family alongside the additional support we provide. Food packages reduce vulnerable communities stress for food and expenses, while providing support in a dignified manner.

Kira shared,

“I am extremely grateful to Islamic Relief for the support that they have provided us. I hope that this will not be the last time they help out people in need, and that they will continue to do good work in the future.”

Follow Your Donation

Follow your donation and see your impact over the past year in Pakistan.