By Mohsin Bashir
The World Giving Report 2026 has presented an image of Pakistan that every Pakistani can rightly take pride in. Pakistan has moved up to seventh place among 105 countries, compared with its 17th position just one year earlier. According to the report, 83 per cent of Pakistanis donated to one cause or another, 57 per cent supported charitable organisations, 59 per cent directly helped people in need, 37 per cent gave through religious channels, while Pakistanis donated around 1.9 per cent of their average income to charity — almost twice the global average.
These figures reflect the generosity, compassion and collective sense of responsibility of Pakistani society. There are perhaps few societies in the world where people step forward so willingly from their own pockets to help others during every stage of hardship, including natural disasters, illness, hunger, orphanhood, unemployment and poverty. During Ramadan, community meals are arranged, clothes are distributed on Eid, blankets are provided in winter, patients receive medical treatment through public donations, orphaned children are supported by private organisations, and during disasters such as floods and earthquakes, ordinary citizens and welfare groups are often the first to reach affected communities.
This is the brighter side of Pakistan’s image, but there is also a darker aspect of the same picture that needs serious discussion.
The question is: why is the need for charity so widespread in Pakistan?
If a state is providing its citizens with quality healthcare, education, food security, social protection and basic human necessities, the role of charity naturally remains limited. In developed countries, people certainly donate, but a large proportion of these contributions goes towards research, culture, environmental protection, universities, museums and international humanitarian causes — rather than meeting basic needs such as providing food for a poor child or paying for a patient’s medical treatment.
Pakistan’s situation is different.
Here, millions of people receive treatment at hospitals that operate with the support of donations from philanthropists. Thousands of orphaned children are cared for by private organisations. Millions of families rely on ration packages, community kitchens and zakat. Countless students continue their education through scholarships funded by charitable contributions. During natural disasters, the public and welfare organisations are often seen responding before official government assistance arrives.
This reality proves the greatness of our nation, but at the same time it also exposes the weaknesses of the state.
The fundamental responsibility of a state is not limited to collecting taxes, making laws or protecting borders. A modern welfare state is also responsible for ensuring that every citizen has access to basic healthcare, quality education, food, clean water, social security and opportunities for a dignified life. If a patient is forced to seek donations for treatment, if a widow’s household survives through charity, or if an orphan’s education depends on public contributions, it is not only a sign of poverty but also an indication of state failure.
Pakistan’s poverty rate remains a matter of serious concern. The country continues to be counted among the lower-ranked nations on the Human Development Index. Millions of children suffer from malnutrition, healthcare facilities remain inadequate, the quality of public schools remains questionable, and the social protection system, due to limited resources, is unable to support the entire population.
In such circumstances, charity becomes a moral responsibility, but it cannot become a permanent solution.
Successful states around the world have reduced poverty not through charity, but through strong institutions, better governance, quality education, employment opportunities, effective healthcare systems and comprehensive social protection programmes. In those countries, charity complements the state; it does not replace it.
In Pakistan, the situation often appears to be the opposite. At times, it seems as if the state has left many of its basic responsibilities to the goodwill of society. Hospitals are supported through private donations, educational scholarships are provided by philanthropists, disaster relief is often carried out by citizens, and the daily needs of millions of people are met through welfare organisations.
This situation cannot remain a source of pride for any state in the long term.
It is also important to consider what would happen if an economic crisis deepened further, if charitable donations declined, or if welfare organisations faced financial difficulties. What would happen to the millions of deserving people whose lives currently depend on private charity? Can a state leave the survival of its citizens at the mercy of voluntary donations?
The Pakistani nation has always demonstrated that it is rich in compassion and generosity. This is why the world sees Pakistanis as an example of charitable spirit. However, the identity of a successful state is not determined only by how much its people donate, but also by how few people need charity in the first place.
True success will come on the day when Pakistan is not recognised among the countries that give the most in charity, but among those with the lowest poverty levels, the best healthcare systems, high-quality education, strong social protection and advanced human development.
Therefore, the figures presented in the World Giving Report 2026 carry two different messages. The first is a message of hope: Pakistani society continues to uphold an extraordinary tradition of compassion, empathy and brotherhood. The second is a serious question for the state: what are the reasons that have compelled citizens to take on such a large role in areas where the state should have been responsible?
The nation has fulfilled its role. It is now the state’s responsibility to establish a system where charity represents an expression of humanity and kindness — not the only means of providing basic human rights.
This is the point where a generous society and a responsible state can work together to build the foundation of a truly welfare-oriented Pakistan.
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