Pakistan ranks 7th in global giving report

Pakistan has climbed 10 places to become the world's seventh most generous country, according to the World Giving Report 2026, a global survey highlighted by Kamran Khan in the latest episode of his On My Radar program.

The report, published by the U.K.-based Charities Aid Foundation in partnership with the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy, ranks Pakistan seventh among 105 countries, up from 17th place a year earlier.

The findings stand in contrast to Pakistan's usual international image, which is often dominated by reports of economic crises, political instability and security challenges.

According to the report, 83% of Pakistanis made a financial donation or contributed in some form over the past year, placing the country among those with the highest rates of public participation in charitable giving worldwide.

It said 57% of respondents donated to charitable organizations, while 59% provided direct financial support to individuals and families in need, underscoring the importance of informal, person-to-person assistance alongside institutional philanthropy.

Khan said the port city of Karachi stands out as a unique example of charitable giving, describing it as a city known for its generosity, where people in need can often find food, clothing, free medical treatment and even shelter through philanthropy.

He credited organizations including Edhi, Saylani, Chhipa, Indus Hospital, Alkhidmat and the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), saying Karachi residents consistently "open their hearts and their wallets" during natural disasters and other crises.

The report said charitable giving in Pakistan differs from many Western countries, where donations are largely routed through formal nonprofit organizations. In Pakistan, philanthropy is deeply rooted in family ties, neighborhoods, religious traditions and local communities.

As a result, practices such as zakat, sadaqah, mosque donations, community trusts, support for hospitals and direct assistance to relatives, neighbors and strangers form an integral part of the country's social fabric.

Experts also noted that a significant share of charitable giving in Pakistan is never recorded in official data or economic statistics, suggesting that actual levels of generosity may be considerably higher than reported. They said this informal system of philanthropy has become one of Pakistan's strongest social safety nets.

With limited government resources and social protection programs that do not reach every vulnerable household, voluntary public donations help fill critical gaps, supporting hospital construction, educational scholarships, flood relief, daily meal programs and financial assistance for low-income families, the report said.