Rethinking charity in Pakistan

Pakistanis take immense pride in being among the most charitable people in the world. Whether it’s distributing food, giving money to those in need or supporting religious institutions, our culture of giving is deeply rooted in faith, empathy and a collective sense of responsibility. It is an identity we wear proudly – and rightly so.

But as we reflect on this noble tradition, a quiet question begins to emerge: If we are such a giving nation, why is poverty still rising? According to the latest World Bank estimates, 44.7 per cent of Pakistan’s population now lives below the poverty line. This is a staggering figure – not just because of its economic implications, but because it challenges our national narrative. If our charitable instinct is so strong, why are so many still left behind?

Perhaps the issue isn’t with our intentions, but with our approach.

For many of us, charity has come to mean immediate relief: feeding the hungry, handing out money or providing short-term support. These acts are undoubtedly driven by compassion, and they do provide temporary comfort. But when such giving becomes the dominant model, year after year, it risks entrenching dependence rather than breaking the cycle of poverty.

Islam, which places immense emphasis on charity, also teaches dignity, empowerment and self-reliance. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “The upper hand is better than the lower hand” – a reminder that giving should aim not only to help, but to elevate. Real charity is not merely transactional; it is transformational.

When we give in ways that unintentionally diminish a person’s drive or sense of self-worth, we do a disservice to their humanity – no matter how pure our intentions. And it is not easy for a person with self-respect to stretch out their hand. Yet by creating systems of unstructured, open-ended aid, we may be unintentionally fostering cycles where such acts become the only option.

This is not a call to give less. It is an invitation to give smarter. To ensure that our charity does not end with a handout, but begins with a step toward independence. To reimagine giving not as a gesture of pity, but as a strategy for social mobility.

Around the world, there are inspiring examples of this shift from relief to empowerment. In Bangladesh, BRAC has lifted millions out of poverty by focusing on education, skills and entrepreneurship, especially for women. Turkey’s Zakat Foundation has moved away from food distribution alone, channeling resources into helping refugees become active members of the economy. Even China, which avoided handouts altogether, managed to pull over 800 million people out of poverty through investments in infrastructure, vocational training and targeted economic integration.

These examples highlight a common thread: dignity-driven development works. Systems rooted in empowerment, not dependency, offer a way out – not just a way through. In Pakistan, we can adopt a similar mindset. Charity can be used to fund technical education programmes, to support microenterprises in underserved areas, to enable women and youth to become income generators, and to partner with reputable institutions that track outcomes and ensure transparency. A family that once relied on daily handouts can, with the right support, become self-sufficient and even begin to give back to others.

The essence of giving remains, but its direction changes. It moves from feeding lines to freeing lives. This is not about undermining the deep sincerity with which Pakistanis give. On the contrary, it is about honoring that sincerity by ensuring that our charity delivers not just relief, but hope, and the tools to rise.

We are a nation of givers. Now let us become a nation of enablers, of dreams, of dignity and of opportunity.

The writer is a long-time diaspora leader based in Dubai with a career spanning five decades as a global corporate senior executive.