How many NGOs and charities are there in Pakistan, and who registers them?
GiveRadar tracks 16,929 NGOs and charities in Pakistan. They are combined from provincial Social Welfare registers, society and company records, and Federal Board of Revenue data, because Pakistan has no single national charity register. A listing may evidence provincial registration, a tax record or voluntary certification, and these are not interchangeable.
An organization first exists under a chosen legal form: a voluntary welfare agency (falahi idara) with a provincial Social Welfare department, a society, a Section 42 not-for-profit company, or a trust. There is no single national commission, so registration records that an organization exists, not that anyone vetted its charitable quality.
How do you register an NGO or welfare organization in Pakistan?
NGOs in Pakistan register provincially, not through one national body. A welfare agency registers with the provincial Social Welfare department under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance 1961 (pakistancode.gov.pk).
Alternatively, seven or more people can form a society under the Societies Registration Act 1860, or three or more can obtain a Section 42 licence from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan to incorporate a not-for-profit company. Some provinces, such as Punjab and Sindh, also require registration with a provincial charity commission.
What does PCP certification mean, and what does registration not tell you?
PCP certification is a voluntary quality mark from the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy, an independent body the tax authority has designated as a certification agency. It assesses governance, financial management, compliance and programme delivery, so it is a genuine "Seal of Good Housekeeping", not a copy of a registration certificate.
Ordinary registration only records legal existence under a chosen regime; it does not prove effectiveness or tax status. GiveRadar flags 1,360 PCP-certified organizations, and its integrity assessment measures what each organization discloses, not its impact.
Are donations to Pakistani NGOs and charities tax-deductible?
A Pakistani taxpayer can claim a tax credit for donations to eligible organizations under Section 61 of the Income Tax Ordinance, subject to limits and payment-evidence rules. Eligibility depends on the organization holding approved non-profit status with the Federal Board of Revenue.
Registration or PCP certification alone does not make a gift creditable, and FBR approval is a separate process from the provincial registration that first brings an organization into existence. Confirm the recipient's tax status before assuming relief applies.
How do you check a Pakistani NGO before you donate?
Check a Pakistani NGO in the official records before giving, using its exact name or registration number. Because records are split across several authorities, more than one check is worth doing.
- Look the organization up on the Federal Board of Revenue's NPO pages.
- Check whether it holds PCP certification in the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy directory.
- Where the province offers a public search, such as Punjab's Charity Commission, look it up there.
- Read the organization's own reports and donation terms. See GiveRadar's integrity score methodology for what each data point proves.
How can you donate to charities and NGOs in Pakistan?
Pakistan offers direct giving to registered NGOs and welfare organizations working in community development, social services, health and education. Choose a cause deliberately, verify the recipient and use only payment details the organization itself publishes.
- Explore Pakistani NGOs by cause, such as the health charities directory, and compare organizations serving the outcome you value.
- Confirm the recipient's registration and, for a tax credit, its FBR approved-NPO status.
- Give through the organization's confirmed bank details or a secure, published payment channel.
- Keep the receipt. See GiveRadar's guidance for donors for more checks.