Caritas Pakistan was formed in 1966 to help thousands of people living in poverty. It has also provided a source of emergency relief for disasters and emergencies. This was highlighted in the aftermath of the 2005 earthquake – Pakistan’s worst natural disaster in over 100 years – which killed 75,000 people and left 3.5 million homeless. The agency set up medical relief camps and provided food, shelter, water and sanitation.



Budget

US$1.7 million

Paid Staff

500

Volunteers

1,000

Beneficiaries

500,000

With help from partner agencies, Caritas Pakistan has since focused on helping communities with rehabilitation and reconstruction, including road building, small-scale business initiatives and education in disaster preparedness.

A third of Pakistan’s people live in poverty. The majority depend on agriculture, but this sector has suffered the twin effects of prolonged drought and lack of an effective national water management strategy.

Caritas Pakistan works in the following areas:

  • Education. Providing training for unskilled and unemployed young people and career guidance workshops;
  • Agriculture. Improving conditions for poorer farmers through initiatives including integrated pest management, water schemes, organic farming and livestock vaccination programmes;
  • Health. Setting up a Caritas National Health Project to provide vulnerable people with preventive and other care.