Pakistani charities report modest recovery in Ramadan despite easing inflation

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Updated 28 March 2025
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Pakistani charities report modest recovery in Ramadan despite easing inflation

  • Alamgir Welfare Trust expects up to 10 percent increase in donations as it aims to expand services
  • Pakistan’s largest charity Edhi Foundation says donations have only marginally improved

KARACHI: Two main charities in Pakistan’s largest city of Karachi have reported a modest recovery in the collection of donations this Ramadan despite easing inflation, top officials at the organizations said this week, as the annual inflation rate slowed to 1.5 percent in February, the lowest in nearly a decade. 

Major welfare organizations such as the Edhi Foundation, Pakistan’s largest charity known for its extensive network of ambulances and shelters, and the Alamgir Welfare Trust (AWT), another main social welfare body, said they expected either stable or slightly higher contributions this year compared to the last two years when high inflation rates had curtailed donations. 

Pakistan’s inflation peaked at 38 percent in May 2023 before gradually easing, with the government expecting it to remain within 1–3 percent in the coming months.

Every year, Edhi and AWT collectively gather and spend as much as Rs4 billion ($14.4 million) on initiatives like sheltering orphans, burying unclaimed dead bodies and providing free food, health and education facilities to thousands of vulnerable families across Pakistan.

“This year we will hopefully see 10 percent extra donations toward our annual budget of Rs3 billion,” Chohdry Nisar Ahmed, the chairman of AWT, told Arab News.

Headquartered in the Bahadurabad neighborhood of Karachi, the organization operates on a daily budget of around Rs10 million ($36,000). 

Ahmed said inflation had adversely affected the charity’s work in recent years, though the situation was now beginning to improve.

“Earlier, the effect of inflation was significant. Now that impact has reduced a bit,” he said “But as the gold price has increased now, so people are bound to pay more Zakat. We did experience a little up and down in donations but not much.”

Zakat is a mandatory form of almsgiving in Islam, calculated as a percentage of one’s wealth, including gold holdings. This means the higher the price of gold, the greater the amount eligible individuals are required to pay.

The AWT chief said he wanted to expand his network of services by constructing a 14-story building in Karachi, the commercial capital of Pakistan. To start the construction work on acquired land, he said, AWT needed at least Rs1.5 billion ($5.4 million). The organization also wants to enroll at least 50,000 children in schools in addition to the 40,000 it is already educating.

The chairman of the Edhi Foundation, which runs the world’s largest volunteer ambulance service, also reported a modest hike in donations this year.

“Charity in the first twenty days of Ramadan is almost the same as compared to last year,” Faisal Edhi told Arab News. “The increase [this year] is very little, not much. We cannot call it a substantial increase.”

Edhi Foundation is preparing to expand its 2,000-vehicle ambulance fleet amid growing demand for emergency response services across Pakistan. It already runs a shelter home that houses 5,000 homeless people, including women and children.

“Our annual budget ranges from Rs3-4 billion that we cover from donations,” Edhi said, adding that a part of the donations came from the Pakistani community living in Britain and the United States, but most came from Pakistani donors belonging to the middle or working classes.

“Seeing the inflation, it seems like the [total] charity will be same as last year and our last year was not very promising either,” Edhi said. “The group that gives us charity, they belong to middle and lower-middle classes or the working class and the working class has been affected the most [by inflation] at the moment.”


Pakistan urges US to ask India to ‘act responsibly’ amid threat of war

Updated 6 sec ago
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Pakistan urges US to ask India to ‘act responsibly’ amid threat of war

  • US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss tensions with India
  • Sharif says India’s “deeply worrisome” behavior will distract Pakistan from battling militants based in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to impress upon New Delhi to “act responsibly” amid fears of a military confrontation breaking out between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan. 

Tensions have surged between the two countries following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on Apr. 22 that New Delhi has said Pakistan was involved in. Islamabad denies the charges and has said it will participate in any credible and transparent investigation of the assault. 

Several countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, UK, US and others have called upon both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and avoid a military confrontation. Pakistan has vowed to give a “strong” response to any aggression after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the military freedom to respond to the Kashmir attack during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday. 

Sharif received a call from Rubio during which he offered the American official Pakistan’s perspective on the recent developments after the Apr. 22 attack, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement. 

“He [Sharif] categorically rejected Indian attempts to link Pakistan to the incident and pointed to his call for a transparent, credible, and neutral investigation to bring out the facts,” the PMO said. 

“He urged the US to impress upon India to dial down the rhetoric and act responsibly.”

Sharif condemned “terrorism” in all its forms and manifestations and underscored Pakistan’s leading role in the “war against terror,” the statement said. 

He described India’s recent behavior as “deeply disappointing and worrisome,” saying it would only serve to distract Pakistan from its ongoing efforts to defeat militants, particularly those based in Afghanistan. 

India and Pakistan have fought two out of three wars since 1947 over the issue of the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir. Both countries claim Kashmir in full but administer only parts of it. 

“The Prime Minister emphasized that peaceful resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute was the only way to ensure lasting peace in South Asia,” the PMO said. 

On bilateral cooperation, Sharif told Rubio there were several areas where both sides could cooperate. He cited counterterrorism and enhanced economic cooperation, “particularly the minerals sector.”

“Secretary of State Rubio thanked the Prime Minister for the detailed conversation and emphasized the need for both sides to continue working together for peace and stability in South Asia,” the statement said. 

Earlier on Wednesday, fears of a military conflict were reignited when the state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) reported India had carried out “unprovoked” firing in the Kayani and Mandal sectors of the Line of Control on Tuesday night. 
The LoC runs 742km (460 miles) dividing the parts of Kashmir governed by India and Pakistan, and acts as part of the de facto border between the two countries.
Small arms were used by the Indian forces, prompting Pakistan to respond, PTV said.
“There are also reports that multiple enemy posts were destroyed by the Pakistan Army’s effective response,” PTV said, naming one of them as the Chakpathra post.
Earlier on Wednesday, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported that a “timely” response by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had “forced” four Indian Rafale jets to retreat after payrolling near the two nations’ de facto border. 
“On the night of April 29/30, four Indian Rafale jets conducted patrolling within Indian geographical boundaries” near the LoC, APP reported, saying PAF “immediately” detected the jets. 
“A timely and swift response by the Pakistan Air Force forced four Indian Rafale jets to retreat … The Pakistani armed forces remain fully prepared and alert to give a befitting response to any aggression from India.”


Pakistan says alert armed forces will respond ‘very strongly’ to any Indian escalation

Updated 30 April 2025
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Pakistan says alert armed forces will respond ‘very strongly’ to any Indian escalation

  • Nation will respond to India in a “decisive manner” at time and place of its choosing, says Pakistan deputy premier
  • Fears of military conflict have increased after New Delhi blamed Islamabad for attack in Indian-administered Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar warned India on Wednesday that the country’s armed forces are alert and would respond “very strongly” to any escalation by New Delhi, amid fears of an all-out war breaking out between the nuclear-armed neighbors. 
Tensions have surged between India and Pakistan following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on Apr. 22 that New Delhi has said Islamabad was involved in. Pakistan denies the charges and has said it will participate in any credible and transparent investigation of the assault. 
Fears have risen since that India may retaliate by conducting limited airstrikes or special forces raids near the Line of Control (LoC), which runs 742km (460 miles) dividing the parts of Kashmir governed by India and Pakistan and acts as part of the de facto border between the two countries. 
Speaking to reporters at a news conference with Pakistan’s military spokesperson by his side, Dar said the world leaders he has spoken to in the past few days have urged Islamabad to exercise restraint. 
“I have been making it very clear on behalf of our government, on behalf of the nation, Pakistan will not be the first one to resort to any escalatory move,” the deputy prime minister said.
“However, in case of any escalatory move by the Indian side, we will respond very strongly.”


He said Pakistan’s government and armed forces are alert to the possibility of any Indian military aggression.
“We are vigilant, our armed forces are vigilant and the nation will thwart any misadventure responding in a befitting and decisive manner at the time and place of our choosing,” he said. 
Pakistan military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry agreed with Dar. He said the military is monitoring the situation carefully and that its countermeasures and responses “in all domains are ready.”
“We are ready, do not test it,” Chaudhry warned. 
PAKISTAN SAYS DESTROYED INDIAN POSTS
Fears of a military confrontation between the two sides heightened further after Pakistan’s state media reported on Wednesday that Pakistan army troops responded to “unprovoked” Indian shelling on Tuesday night across the de facto border that divides the disputed Kashmir region between the two nations. 
PTV said India had carried out “unprovoked” firing in the Kayani and Mandal sectors of the Line of Control on Tuesday night. Small arms were used by the Indian forces, prompting Pakistan to respond.
“There are also reports that multiple enemy posts were destroyed by the Pakistan Army’s effective response,” PTV said, naming one of them as the Chakpathra post.


Earlier, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had “forced” four Indian Rafale jets to retreat after patrolling near the two nations’ de facto border. 
“On the night of April 29/30, four Indian Rafale jets conducted patrolling within Indian geographical boundaries” near the LoC, APP reported, saying PAF “immediately” detected the jets. 
“A timely and swift response by the Pakistan Air Force forced four Indian Rafale jets to retreat … The Pakistani armed forces remain fully prepared and alert to give a befitting response to any aggression from India.”
Since last Tuesday’s attack, in addition to shooting over the Line of Control frontier, India and Pakistan have announced tit-for-tat diplomatic measures that included the cancelation of visas and a recall of diplomats. 
New Delhi also suspended a crucial water-sharing treaty with Islamabad and ordered its border shut with Pakistan. In response, Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian airlines.
Late on Tuesday night, Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said Pakistan had “credible intelligence” India was planning military action against it in the “next 24-36 hours on the pretext of baseless and concocted allegations of involvement in the Pahalgam incident.”


Pakistan among top five nations with most people living in poverty — UN report

Updated 30 April 2025
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Pakistan among top five nations with most people living in poverty — UN report

  • Around 38.3 percent of Pakistanis live in multidimensional poverty, says United Nations’ annual report on Pakistan
  • Pakistan ranks 142 out of 146 on Global Gender Gap Index, highlighting disparities in women’s and girls’ economic participation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan ranks among the top five countries with the highest number of people living in poverty, the United Nations Development Programme said in its annual report recently, stating that 38.3 percent of the nation’s population experiences multidimensional poverty.
Poverty in Pakistan remains a complex challenge, exacerbated by a prolonged macroeconomic crisis that Islamabad is desperately trying to escape. Poor people in Pakistan have to face challenges in the form of lack of social protection and economic benefits, especially in informal jobs.
“According to the latest Multidimensional Poverty Index, Pakistan is among the five countries with the highest number of people living in poverty,” the UNDP said in its 2024 report on Pakistan, released on March 14.
“Around 38.3 percent of the population lives in multidimensional poverty, while 12.9 percent are vulnerable to falling into this category.”
Multidimensional poverty is a way of measuring poverty beyond income alone. It recognizes that people can experience multiple, overlapping deprivations that affect their well-being and quality of life.
These deprivations can include limited access to basic services such as access to clean water, electricity, health and sanitation facilities. 
Separately, the report ranked Pakistan 142 out of 146 on the Global Gender Gap Index, highlighting significant disparities in economic participation, political representation, and access to opportunities for women and girls.
“Ahead of Pakistan’s general elections, UNDP’s voter education campaign reached 85 million people, including 31 million women,” it added.
“This effort contributed to the registration of over 100,000 new voters, primarily women, raising women’s voter turnout to 43 percent in 2024, up from 39.7 percent in 2018.”
The Index is a benchmark tool developed by the World Economic Forum to measure gender-based disparities across countries. It evaluates how equitably resources and opportunities are distributed between men and women, regardless of overall income levels or development.
Gender disparity is a significant issue in Pakistan, characterized by unequal opportunities, wage gaps and underrepresentation of women in leadership and decision-making roles. 
Cultural norms and traditional gender roles often limit women’s participation in various sectors mostly dominated by men.


Temperatures in Pakistan may hit 50°C this week, a global record — report 

Updated 30 April 2025
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Temperatures in Pakistan may hit 50°C this week, a global record — report 

  • Wednesday and Thursday might be the hottest April days for Pakistan, says report
  • Says Pakistan recorded temperatures over 4 degrees above average so far this month

ISLAMABAD: Temperatures in central and southern Pakistan may surge to 50°C this week, nearing the global record for the highest temperature ever recorded in April, as per a report by American newspaper The Washington Post. 

The warning comes amid increasingly unpredictable climate patterns across South Asia, with several cities in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province such as Karachi experiencing more frequent and intense heatwaves in recent years— a trend that climate experts attribute to broader shifts caused by global warming.

The situation underscores rising concerns over Pakistan’s preparedness for extreme weather events amid growing calls for stronger climate adaptation policies, increased tree cover in urban areas and more effective public awareness campaigns.

“Temperatures in central and southern Pakistan rose to 118 degrees Fahrenheit (47.8°C) last weekend and are forecast to climb through Wednesday, possibly nearing the global April record of 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50°C),” The Washington Post said in a report.

“Heat will build across the Middle East and South Asia through the week, with Wednesday and Thursday looking like the hottest days for Pakistan.”

It added that Sindh’s Nawabshah city had reached the 50°C mark back in April 2018 and could repeat the same this week. Nawabshah recorded a temperature of 50.2°C back then and set a new global record for the highest temperature ever observed in April. 

The report said “a sprawling dome of high pressure like a heavy lid trapping heat in a pot” was causing the current heat wave, stretching from the Middle East to South Asia. It noted that this area experiences the Earth’s most unusually warm temperatures during April.

It quoted the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts as predicting the maximum temperature to remain around 50°C in central Pakistan on Wednesday and Thursday.

“Temperatures have been more than 4 degrees above average in Pakistan so far this April, even before the arrival of this week’s potentially record-breaking heat,” it added.

Pakistan ranks among the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change, grappling with increasingly frequent extreme weather events from deadly heatwaves to devastating floods. 

The 2015 heatwave claimed over 2,000 lives in Karachi alone while the 2022 floods left more than 1,700 dead and over 33 million displaced nationwide.


Saudi Arabia, US seek de-escalation of Pakistan-India tensions

Updated 30 April 2025
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Saudi Arabia, US seek de-escalation of Pakistan-India tensions

  • Riyadh urges neighbors to resolve disagreements through diplomatic channels, strive for stability and peace for their people and region 
  • Tensions have surged following attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi blames on Pakistan, which denies the charge 

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has expressed concern over heightened tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India amid exchanges of fire along their disputed border separating Kashmir and fears of an Indian military incursion, state news agency SPA reported on Wednesday.

Relations have plummeted following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on Apr. 22 that New Delhi has said Pakistan was involved in. Islamabad denies the charges. Fears have risen since that India may conduct limited airstrikes or special forces raids near its border with Pakistan.

Pakistan’s information minister said on Tuesday night the country had “credible intelligence” India intended to carry out military action against it in the “next 24-36 hours on the pretext of baseless and concocted allegations of involvement in the Pahalgam incident.”

“The Kingdom appealed to both nations to de-escalate, avoid further escalation, resolve their disagreements through diplomatic channels, uphold the principles of good neighborliness, and strive for stability and peace for the welfare of their people and region,” SPA said.

Separately, US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker called on Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad to discuss regional developments, the Pakistani foreign office said. 

“The US Cd’A conveyed the US desire for de-escalation and that it will stay engaged with both countries on the evolving situation,” the statement said. 

Meanwhile United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke separately on Tuesday with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif and India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

“The Secretary-General also expressed his deep concern at rising tensions between India and Pakistan and underscored the need to avoid a confrontation that could result in tragic consequences. He offered his Good Offices to support de-escalation efforts,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. 

The US State Department has also said Washington was in touch with both India and Pakistan while urging them to work toward what it called a “responsible solution.” 

In public, the US government has expressed support for India after the attack but has not criticized Pakistan.

Since the attack, in addition to soldiers shooting over the Line of Control frontier that divides disputed Kashmir between the two nations, India and Pakistan have announced tit-for-tat diplomatic measures that included cancelation of visas and a recall of diplomats. 

New Delhi also suspended a crucial water-sharing treaty with Islamabad and ordered its border shut with Pakistan. In response, Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian airlines.

Kashmir is disputed between India and Pakistan since 1947, with both ruling it in part but claiming it in full.