Skindar Iqbal
LONDON: Dr Fazal ur Rehman, Country Director for the United States and Pakistan at “Zakat Fund” has said that the global charity sector has experienced a decline in donations over the past few years, particularly following increased government control and scrutiny of the sector under US President Donald Trump. He was speaking at a reception held in his honour at the London head office of “Al Mustafa Welfare Trust”.
Dr Fazal ur Rehman said that today’s donors, particularly younger people, want to see the long-term impact and tangible results of their contributions. Simply providing financial assistance is no longer enough; donors also want to know what positive difference their donations are making to society. He claimed that the global charity sector was worth more than $15 billion two years ago, but had fallen to $14 billion last year and declined further since then.
He said the charity sector had become increasingly sensitive and subject to strict scrutiny. However, he regarded this as a positive development, as it would help promote greater transparency and accountability.
Highlighting the challenges facing charitable organisations in Pakistan, Dr Fazal ur Rehman said regulations governing the sector were becoming increasingly stringent. He pointed out that an organisation might be carrying out effective charitable work in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but could still face difficulties obtaining a licence to operate in Punjab or another province for various reasons.
He said the charity sector was now fully regulated, leaving little room for negligence or administrative shortcomings. Established charities, he added, needed to modernise their traditional working practices and pay greater attention to developing their human resources.
Referring to the growing problem of Islamophobia in Western countries, Dr Fazal ur Rehman said Muslim communities needed to reach beyond their traditional circles and build stronger relationships with people from other communities.
He stressed that Muslims must become more actively involved in wider society, step outside their comfort zones and participate in interfaith programmes. Such engagement, he said, was essential to addressing the challenges facing Muslim communities and strengthening their role in society.
At the conclusion of the event, prayers were offered for the late journalist Shaukat Dar.
