Pakistanis in Germany include students at technical universities, doctors, IT specialists, restaurant owners and families settled for decades in cities like Frankfurt, Berlin and Hamburg. Many want to donate to Pakistan from Germany in a way they can trust. This page sets out, in plain terms, how Peace and Humanity Welfare Organization (PHWO) receives gifts from Europe.
PHWO is based in Pakistan alone. Its only office sits in Larkana, Sindh, and it has no association (Verein), branch or contact person in Germany. The families it supports in Pakistan pay nothing for any service.
Why a Pakistani welfare group rather than a German one?
German aid organisations do good work abroad, and giving through them may bring tax benefits that PHWO cannot offer. Some donors still prefer to support a Pakistani group directly, because it deals with individual households: a mother in Peshawar behind on rent, a young man in Rahim Yar Khan who needs a laptop to freelance, a family in Jacobabad whose home was damaged by floods. PHWO asks each applicant for a live photo, and volunteers review the request. Where the situation is genuine and something can be done, help is organised. Nothing is guaranteed to anyone.
What happens to zakat and sadaqah
Zakat is kept in a fund of its own and given only to people entitled to it under Shariah; PHWO never spends it on rent, salaries or any other overhead. Sadaqah is recorded separately and distributed in full to people in need. PHWO’s eight areas of work are described on Programmes. If you want to support one household whose request has been reviewed, Sponsor a case shows current cases.
Sending euros: international transfer and other options
A SEPA transfer will not work, because PHWO’s account is in Pakistan and outside the SEPA area. Nor are cards or PayPal accepted. The routes on the Donate page are:
- International wire transfer (Auslandsüberweisung) from your German bank, sent via SWIFT to the account shown on the donate page.
- A relative in Pakistan paying locally by bank transfer to the UBL account shown on the donate page.
- Goods brought to the Larkana office in person.
PHWO receives Pakistani rupees. Your euros are converted by your bank or a correspondent bank, and non-SEPA transfers can carry noticeable fees, so ask your bank what it charges and what rate it applies. Choose the fee option carefully: some banks let you pay all charges yourself so the full amount arrives. Afterwards, confirm the payment through the form on the donate page; once it is traced, a numbered receipt lands in your inbox.
Pakistan is four hours ahead of Germany in winter and three in summer. A message sent from your PHWO account over breakfast in Germany reaches Larkana late in the morning.
A note on receipts and German tax
The receipt PHWO emails is its own confirmation of your gift. It is not a German Zuwendungsbestätigung, and PHWO is not a German tax-privileged body. Donations to it are generally not deductible in Germany. If you need tax advice, speak with a Steuerberater. PHWO is a Pakistani organisation whose registration under Pakistan’s welfare agency law is being processed.
Zakat dates, Ramadan and Eid in Germany
Many families in Germany pay zakat in Ramadan, when the long European fasting days make charity feel especially close. You may pay on any fixed date that marks your lunar year. Use the Zakat calculator to total cash, account balances, gold, silver and business stock, all converted into one currency. International transfers can take several working days, so send fitrana well before Eid so it can reach families before the prayer.
Volunteering and fundraising from Germany
Fundraisers abroad are high on PHWO’s list of volunteer needs. Students’ associations, community groups and family networks are natural places to share its work. Direct people to the donate page so every gift is paid directly; please do not open collection accounts or gather cash in PHWO’s name. Legal aid volunteering is for advocates practising in Pakistan only. Register via Volunteer; volunteers are given a certificate, a letter of appreciation and an experience letter.
How to judge any appeal
Whether an appeal comes from Germany or abroad, the same checks help. Can you find a real postal address? Is the bank account in the organisation’s name? Are you being pushed to decide immediately? Is the story consistent? You can find PHWO at 704/C Lahori Muhalla in Larkana, its sole premises. It never asks donors to pay individuals, and please report to info@phwo.org anyone who solicits money on its behalf.
If you studied in Germany on a scholarship
A good number of Pakistanis came to Germany as students, some with help from family, some with scholarships, and some after years of saving. Many remember how much a laptop, a fee payment or a small loan meant at the start of their studies. PHWO often hears from students in Pakistan who are in exactly that position: bright, admitted to a course, but unable to pay the semester fee or buy the equipment they need.
If education is close to your heart, you can say so in your confirmation, and your sadaqah can be directed towards study-related needs such as fees and laptops. Zakat can also support eligible students. You can read more about PHWO’s education and digital-skills work under Programmes. Your relatives or neighbours’ children in Pakistan can apply for such support themselves through Request help, and their request will be checked in the same way as any other.
Public services in Germany you can also use
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PakistanFind the Pakistan Embassy in Berlin and consulates
- Bundeszentralamt für SteuernFederal Central Tax Office, general tax information
These are public or independent services, listed to help you. They are not part of PHWO.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send a SEPA transfer to PHWO?
No. Pakistan is outside SEPA. Use an international (SWIFT) transfer from your German bank.
Will I receive a Spendenquittung?
PHWO emails a numbered receipt, but it is not a German tax receipt. Speak to a tax adviser about your situation.
Is there a PHWO Verein in Germany?
No. PHWO has no German association, office or representative.
What does the transfer cost?
That depends on your bank. Ask about the fee and exchange rate for a non-SEPA transfer before sending.
Can students in Germany volunteer?
Yes, as fundraisers who share PHWO's work and encourage people to give directly.