Pakistanis in France are concentrated around Paris, especially the northern and eastern suburbs, with smaller communities in other cities. Many run businesses, work in trade or services, or study. For people hoping to donate to Pakistan from France, Peace and Humanity Welfare Organization (PHWO) is a Pakistani welfare group that accepts gifts from abroad and passes them to households whose needs have been checked.
PHWO is run from one office only, in Larkana, Sindh. It has no association loi 1901, bureau or representative in France, and nobody collects for it there. Families in Pakistan never pay for its help.
Why French-Pakistani donors choose direct giving
Some donors prefer a smaller organisation where gifts go to identifiable families rather than large programmes. PHWO fits that description. Among the people who write to it: a rickshaw driver in Rawalpindi whose vehicle was stolen, leaving him in debt; a schoolgirl in Khairpur whose father cannot pay for her books; an elderly widow in Mardan with no regular income. Every applicant supplies a live photo, and volunteers review the request. If the case is real and support is feasible, PHWO arranges it. Applicants are never assured of help.
Because PHWO works without branches, it can answer a request from a remote valley in Gilgit-Baltistan in the same way as one from a city street. The flip side is that applicants must document their situation carefully, and donors can take comfort that every case has been through that process before support is arranged.
The funds behind your gift
Zakat is held in a distinct fund, reserved for people who are eligible under Islamic law, and none of it goes on administration. Sadaqah has its own fund and is distributed in full to those in need. Explore PHWO’s eight fields of work on Programmes. If you would like your gift linked to a single family whose file has been checked, Sponsor a case is the page to open.
Making a virement international
PHWO has no card terminal, PayPal or Lydia option, and a SEPA virement cannot reach an account in Pakistan. Its Donate page offers:
- International wire transfer: a virement international (SWIFT, hors zone SEPA) from your French bank, using the beneficiary details published by PHWO.
- Payment by a relative in Pakistan through an ordinary transfer to PHWO’s UBL account.
- Donated goods taken to the Larkana office.
PHWO is paid in rupees. Your bank changes your euros at its own rate and may charge a fixed fee plus a percentage, so ask before sending. Money transfer agencies that can credit Pakistani bank accounts are another route; compare the amount that will actually arrive. Copy PHWO’s details only from its website. After sending, confirm the payment using the form there. Once it appears on PHWO’s statement, a numbered receipt is emailed to you.
Paris is three hours behind Pakistan in summer and four in winter. Message PHWO from your free PHWO account in the morning and volunteers in Pakistan will see it during their working day.
Zakat and Ramadan for families in France
Ramadan is a natural time for many families in France to settle zakat, but any fixed date marking your lunar year is acceptable. With the Zakat calculator you can total savings, Livret accounts, gold, silver and trade stock; ask a scholar you trust if you are unsure about particular savings products. Send fitrana early in the month so it reaches families before the Eid prayer.
Tax receipts: what to expect
PHWO cannot issue a French reçu fiscal, because it is not a French organisation. Gifts to it therefore generally do not qualify for French tax reductions. Official information on donations and tax is available on Service-Public.fr, and a tax adviser can advise on your situation. PHWO’s own receipt simply confirms that your gift was received. In Pakistan, it is completing its registration as a voluntary social welfare agency.
Helping as a fundraiser from France
PHWO would like more fundraisers abroad. You might tell friends, colleagues or your family group about its work and send them the donate link. Everyone should transfer directly; please do not gather money or present yourself as PHWO’s representative. Legal aid cases are taken only by advocates practising in Pakistan. Register through Volunteer; every volunteer receives a certificate, a letter of appreciation and an experience letter.
Donate to Pakistan from France safely
A few simple checks protect you from fraud. Is the beneficiary an organisation rather than a private individual? Can you verify an address? Is someone pressuring you with a deadline? Are the photos original? PHWO’s single office is House 704/C, Lahori Muhalla, Larkana, and its account details appear only on phwo.org.
If you receive a message claiming to be from PHWO with different account details, do not pay. Forward it to info@phwo.org so volunteers can warn others.
It is also sensible to be wary of appeals that use the names of real disasters, such as floods in Sindh, to collect money without any verifiable organisation behind them. Genuine groups are happy to answer questions before you give.
Free services for relatives in Pakistan
Your family in Pakistan can use PHWO too. Request help accepts applications for ration, medical costs, fees, rent, debt and more. Free legal aid links people with volunteer advocates, particularly for family matters. The Rishta Desk helps families of any faith look for a match without charge, with a live selfie check and a PHWO staff review of every profile, with families always deciding and no match assured.
Public services in France you can also use
- Service-Public.frOfficial French government information, including donations and tax
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PakistanFind the Pakistan Embassy in Paris
These are public or independent services, listed to help you. They are not part of PHWO.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a reçu fiscal from PHWO?
No. PHWO is a Pakistani organisation and cannot issue French tax receipts. It emails its own numbered receipt.
Will a SEPA transfer work?
No. Pakistan is outside the SEPA zone. Use an international SWIFT transfer.
Is there a PHWO association in France?
No. PHWO has no office, association or representative in France.
Can I split my gift between zakat and sadaqah?
Yes. Say how much is zakat and how much is sadaqah in the confirmation form.
How long does an international transfer take?
It depends on the banks involved. Ask your bank, and allow extra time before Eid.