Excerpt: Pakistan also has a strong network of philanthropy that includes the Aga Khan Foundation, corporate-sponsored projects and the Edhi Foundation. The latter group runs a vast system of orphanages, air and road ambulances, women’s shelters and drug rehabilitation centers.
Mr. Kassim-Lakha attributes the commitment to giving to a regional culture that includes Islam, but also predates it. “Both the Hindu culture and the Buddhist culture, which were here before Islam ever came here, are cultures of giving,” he said.
Still, Pakistan’s private sector has work to do to turn this generosity into large-scale social development. The Pakistan Center for Philanthropy is encouraging investment in schools, hospitals and shelters, while seeking legislation to encourage more efficient use of donations. Under a certification system that it developed, those who donate 20 percent of their income to certified organizations, or corporations that donate 10 percent of before-tax profits, receive tax exemptions and other benefits.
Ismailimail 