Philanthropy in Pakistan

Abstract

The primary objective of this nationally representative survey (n = 2000 ) was to obtain information on charitable giving and volunteering patterns in Pakistan. The survey questionnaire included a demographic section followed by questions related to charitable giving, zakat, volunteering, waqfs, and NGOs.

The overall analysis of the survey results for Pakistan sheds light on motivations and preferences for charitable giving, views and practices revolving around zakat, trends pertaining to volunteering, and perceptions and engagements with waqfs and NGOs. For certain findings, Pakistan's trends are similar to those of other Muslim-majority countries (refer to the other country reports for comparison). First, in­-person giving remains the most preferable method of charitable giving. Second, the widespread belief in zakat as a means of poverty and hunger alleviation reflects the belief that zakat should be channeled to immediate relief. On the other hand, other findings seem to apply only to the context of Pakistan. The lack of popularity for alternative means of charitable giving besides giving directly to individuals, the lack of trust in giving to state institutions, general unfamiliarity with waqfs, and the perceptions of NGOs, among other things, reflect this distinction. Pakistani respondents are also relatively split on whether zakat is a mandatory tax (42%) or a nonobligatory charity (58%), reflecting the absence of an overwhelming consensus on this issue. Regarding volunteering, respondents acknowledged other factors besides prosocial motivations that drive them to volunteer. These reasons are self-oriented, and they range from warm glow to "strategic" decisions where individuals are motivated by how volunteering can improve their career prospects and enable them to network and to be able to explore and familiarize themselves with causes they support and believe in.