We have our observation that social sector in Pakistan is not only active but also playing productive character as per its available resources. According to Aga khan Development network, there are 10,000 to 12,000 Registered NGO in Pakistan. If unregistered are considered then the number reaches 60,000. The breakup is 59% in Punjab, then in Sindh, then in K-P, Then Baluchistan. These social bodies are registered under five different laws which are these, The Societies Act (1860), Companies Ordinance (1984), the Trust Act (1882), the Charitable Endowments Act (1890), the Co-operative Act (1925) and the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance (1961).
These social bodies are working in these fields and their specifications are these, education (including basic, Primary, adult and informal) represents 56 percent of the total. Health and women’s development accounting for 39 percent.
Other areas of focus include early childhood development (15.2 percent), sports promotion and recreation (12.3 percent) and community development (12 percent). Intermediary NGOs and support organizations are also most actively engaged in education (69 percent); and women’s issues (56 percent)
These NGOs have these Sources of Funding by International Donations, CIDA, SDC, USAID, DFID, UN, Embassies of Australia, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, International NGOs, Oxfam, Save the Children, Asia Foundation, British Council, Christen Social Services, Action Aid etc., Internal Fund Generation, In 1998 Pakistanis gave an estimated Rs.41 billion in cash and kind, and another estimated Rs.29 million in time. As much as 65 percent of all monetary giving went to individuals, two-thirds of which was ‘Zakat’. The available forums to represent these NGOs are these, Pakistan NGO Forum [PNF], Advocacy Development Network, Co-ordination Council for Child Welfare, Women in Development (WID) networks, Rural Support Network (RSPN), Pakistan Reproductive Health Network (PRHN), Pakistan Education Network (PEN), Pakistan Microfinance Network and Environmental NGOs Network.
So, this is another surprise that there is no forum or platform to support, educate, guide and help these thousands bodies to work in what credentials and directions. There is no platform available to support these NGOs in crises or the support for social workers. Another, there is no institutional guideline for NGOs how to market and how to fulfill the requirements from donor/partner entities.
To provide concrete solutions in all aspects, GAIN has mission to create this independent platform and services to make social sector as an industry and as a real sector to support society and its deprived areas and communities.