Top 5 NGOs working in Pakistan

The role of NGOs in Pakistan with regards to social and humanitarian efforts and addressing environmental issues have been highly significant, gauging their efforts by the shift in social/ political paradigm. Resultantly refining and upgrading the community at large. The amenities they provide include cost-free and quality education, health and assistance in case of natural calamities such as earthquakes or floods.

The NGOs make organized efforts to tackle the policies of governments, corporations and multilateral institutions. International NGOs also link up segregated global communities, share similar issues and increase awareness of global eminent issues such as deforestation and global warming. NGOs are hence the outcome of recognizable flaws of the age-old notion of state-tied development partnership.

They are vital stakeholders in the rural development and poverty alleviation through micro-funding programmers, simultaneously progressing in the fields of environment and developmental strategies. NGOs vary in types such as community-based organizations, intermediaries and International NGOs, with a common goal that is to assist the middle and lower classes of society, emerging with self-sustainable socioeconomic programmers.

In a country whose literacy rate is just over half and where the government spends just 2.4% of its GDP on education, speaks volumes of the halfhearted efforts of the state to educate its citizens. The existence of ghost schools in rural areas of Punjab and Sindh provinces is not just a great cause of concern, instead is a prime example of how the educational system is made a mockery of and where do our priorities lie.

Over the years we have noticed a substantial decline in the standard of facilities provided by state-owned educational institutions, primarily because of incompetent faculties. Private sector schools and colleges definitely contribute effectively to impart education at all levels but they aren’t feasible at all for the vast majority having low incomes. Thus the state unable to cater the needs of a large population relies heavily upon the welfare organizations to assist them.

The relationship between education and health is a vital one in terms of the evident link between family planning and access to education and thus are usually found together. Also, health care and education usually correlate to the adoption of contraceptive practices and, therefore, to fertility decline.

The Health sector is in a similar state of shambles as that of education, if not worse. Instead of serving the needs of an enormous population in an effective and efficient manner, a Public sector in Pakistan has been deficient in the capacity to deliver reputable health services.

Since many years, international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have put in considerable efforts to fill the gaps in health service delivery, research and advocacy. NGOs have relatively performed better and achieved the results because of flexible planning and the ability to design population-based projects on health education, health promotion, social marketing, community development and advocacy.

NGOs in comparison are cost-effective with nominal fee structures and improved health and education standards along with incentives such health subsidies and scholarships for Pakistani students from destitute backgrounds. Also, NGOs have multiple strengths ranging from planning and evaluation; and social change through grass root engagement. They are well aware of their roles as support organizations ensuring the government effectively fulfills educational needs with respect to quality, accessibility and affordability.

Other strategies that NGOs employ in the betterment of primary education and healthcare among the masses are Public-Private Partnerships, Employee training workshops, community supported schools and hospitals, family literacy, necessary vaccinations and human resource development.

By bridging the gap between local and technical knowledge in the attempt to discover long-term solutions, NGOs apply new approaches in resolving complications and diffusing knowledge to other organizations by linking them to the local ones by way of joining networks or building connections with international organizations.

Numerous Non-Profit Welfare Organizations in Pakistan are working efficiently to assist or aid the underprivileged community with quality education and effective healthcare. All charity businesses have their respective different agendas and a plan to implement and resultantly facilitate the less fortunate according to available means and resources. Below is the list of the top 5 NGOs in Pakistan running actively to date

A one-man initiative taken back then by country's leading philanthropist, the late Abdul Sattar Edhi in 1951 led to the founding of the Edhi Foundation. Initially, its purpose and Edhi's vision was to provide orphans with shelter and food and to support them till they became self-sufficient. Also, Mr. Edhi along with his wife started an ambulance service, one at that time and today considered the largest ambulance service in the world.

n Karachi alone, the Edhi Foundation runs 8 hospitals providing free medical care, eye hospitals, diabetic centres, surgical units, a 4- bed cancer hospital and mobile dispensaries.

Since its emergence as a national non-governmental organization, complying to the Societies Registration Act 1860, Aurat Foundation has diligently focused to create mass awareness and commitment for an equitable, democratic and caring society in Pakistan, where both genders are recognized as equals, bias-free with the right to lead their lives with self-respect and dignity. Over the last 30 years, Aurat Foundation has come to be recognized domestically and globally as one of the leading institutions creating, facilitating and strengthening civil society groups and networks for promoting trust and collaboration among citizens to mobilize public pressure for women empowerment in the country.

Having struggled to find quality healthcare treatment for a sick family member in Pakistan, followed by a devastating earthquake that shook the western Himalayas and adjoining regions in Pakistan, that left millions injured and displaced, resulted in the setting up of Bilqees Sarwar Foundation back then in 2005. Throughout the relief effort, the Sarwar’s became one of the largest donors to citizens in the region and in 2013, they expanded their efforts and operations to serve communities facing hardship around the globe, irrespective of race, color, region etc. The primary focus of the foundation is to provide vital amenities such as public health, education and emergency response activities.

Established in 1980 by Ansar Burney, a renowned advocate of Karachi; the Ansar Burney Trust was the first organization to introduce true human rights in Pakistan.

The Ansar Burney Trust is a network of human rights organizations working for the deliverance of justice, better treatment of human beings and for the rights and freedoms of civil liberties. Their commendable efforts raise awareness, provide free legal advice and services and humanitarian assistance where needed.

CARE Foundation is an organization which focused on providing quality education to all regardless of gender and background. Along with having the purpose of achieving higher literacy rate in Pakistan, they work towards nation building. CARE believes in empowering children by providing education that will make them responsible members of the society.

Care Foundation runs 886 schools nationwide, with more than 285,000 enrolled students and 6000 plus teachers performing their duties with the best of intentions, consequently making Pakistan socially and economically prosperous.