The research programme at the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy aims to enhance understanding of various dimensions of philanthropy. The core objective of our research agenda is to make research findings available for development practitioners to better plan and organise social investment for civic benefit in Pakistan. This programme is committed to expanding the empirical map on voluntary giving, which remains largely unexplored. Sharing this evidence based information through effective communication channels is also an integral part of our mandate. Our ongoing research studies include a diaspora study, a corporate study and a study on the giving patterns of high net-worth individuals. 

PCP intends to continue mapping trends in corporate and diaspora philanthropy over time. We will be conducting a follow-up corporate study every four years. Periodically, the Centre will be undertaking a diaspora study in countries with significant Pakistani diaspora populations.



 Diaspora Philanthropy by Pakistanis in the U.S. 

A research team organised and guided by PCP is studying the quantitative and qualitative aspects of philanthropy by Pakistani diaspora communities in the U.S. Understanding diaspora giving practices, issues, motivations and challenges to giving will help organisations (NPOs) strategise to harness potential resources.

Availability of such evidence-based information shall also help NPOs become more responsive to the information and acknowledgement needs of diaspora philanthropists. 

Objectives of the study:

    Map, to the extent possible, the nature and level of actual   
         diaspora philanthropy and assess the potential

    Identify mechanisms of current philanthropic practices   
         and also the constraints faced by the diaspora

    Based on articulation by diaspora, identify types of  
         services and information to be provided by PCP, 
         which can help increase the volume of philanthropy

    Compile a knowledge-base, from which, recommendations  
         can be extracted for policy action by the government

Conducted in Pakistan and the USA, the current research highlights the dimensions and future potential of philanthropy by Pakistanis in the USA. The research study involves: individual structured interviews with selected Pakistani philanthropists, leaders of Pakistani associations in the USA, officials of the Pakistani Embassy and other relevant individuals in a cross-section of major cities and regions in USA; focus group meetings with a representative cross-section of the Pakistani community in various cities and regions across USA; and a general questionnaire survey conducted through the PCP website, email and ordinary mail or in focus group meetings.

The US based research team comprises researchers and scholars of Pakistani origin and is led by Professor Adil Najam (adil.najam@tufts.edu) of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. Other members of the team include Dr. Salal Humair, Dr. Bilal Zuberi, Ms. Maha Qazi, Ms. Momina Suleman Malik, Ms. Durriya Farooqui, Mr. Sabahat Ashraf and Ms. Sumbula Safavi.

The study has been organised by PCP, coordinated by the Aga Khan Foundation and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. It will be publicly available by early 2005.

Study on the Nature and Scope of Corporate Philanthropy in Pakistan

Building upon a similar survey conducted by the Aga Khan Development Network and NGO Resource Centre in 1998-99, PCP has undertaken a 'Study on the Nature and Scope of Corporate Philanthropy in Pakistan'. The survey proposes a wider geographical coverage to include top business centers/ cities from 14 broad sub-sectors distributed in seven locations of Punjab, Sindh and NWFP. The study surveys approximately 300 businesses and undertakes a separate case study of Sialkot city.

Objectives of the study: 

      Funded by the Aga Khan Foundation; the survey has been conducted by the Applied Economics Research Centre (AERC), Karachi. The research report will be publicly available in early 2005. 

PCP plans to undertake this study every four years to document trends in corporate philanthropy. We expect these surveys to play an important role in  identifying opportunities towards the development of social investment in Pakistan.



PCP, in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium (APPC) initiated a six month study to investigate barriers and constraints to charitable giving by high net-worth individuals in Pakistan. Parallel studies were conducted in five other countries in Asia including: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

The aim of the study has been to gather information about the philanthropic behavior of high net-worth individuals to derive some impressions of the quantum of their giving, and whether philanthropic intermediaries can play a useful role in overcoming barriers to giving. Such as; some form of “donor education” effort; better mechanisms to connect willing philanthropists and qualified nonprofit organisations; specific improvements in law, regulation, or practice.

APPC intends to disseminate findings and recommendations from this project in each of the six countries, where targeted nonprofit and philanthropic leaders can discuss the possibilities for follow-up to the study. APPC’s regional audience includes Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand. International networks of philanthropic and nonprofit sector organisations are also part of the broader audience of APPC for this study.

The findings of this study will be published by early 2005. 

          What were you looking for on this page but did not find? Tell us

                     Site designed and maintained by Faisal Rana