Pakistanis in Italy often work long hours in factories, farms, restaurants and small shops in the north, from Lombardy to Emilia-Romagna, and many still carry responsibilities for extended families at home. If you also want to donate to Pakistan from Italy for people you do not know personally, the sections below describe how Peace and Humanity Welfare Organization (PHWO) receives money and uses it.
Let us be plain about what PHWO is not. It has no associazione, office or contact person in Italy. Its only premises are in Larkana, Sindh. And nobody in Pakistan who turns to it is ever charged.
Giving beyond your own family
Most overseas workers send money home every month. That is already an act of care. PHWO offers a way to reach households outside your own circle: a widow in Gujranwala whose landlord has given notice, a teenage boy in Sukkur who needs a laptop for a coding course, a farming family in Rajanpur still repaying loans taken after floods. Each case comes with a live photo of the applicant, and volunteers check it. Support is organised once the facts are clear and PHWO is in a position to act. It promises nothing in advance.
Zakat in one fund, sadaqah in another
At PHWO, zakat is recorded in a dedicated fund. Only eligible recipients get it, and none of it covers office expenses. Sadaqah is logged separately and passed to people in need without deductions. The organisation’s areas of work, from schooling and health care to vocational skills and disaster relief, are described on Programmes. To help one reviewed household, see Sponsor a case.
How to send money: bonifico estero and alternatives
A normal SEPA bonifico will not reach PHWO, since its bank account is in Pakistan. There is also no card or PayPal option. What the Donate page offers is:
- International wire transfer, a bonifico estero (extra-SEPA) sent through SWIFT from your Italian bank or Poste account where available.
- Local Pakistani payment by a relative, as a bank transfer to PHWO’s UBL account.
- Goods in kind, delivered to the Larkana office.
Money arrives in rupees. Your euros are exchanged by your bank or its correspondent, and extra-SEPA transfers can be costly, so ask about commissions and the exchange rate first. Some money transfer shops in Italy can also send into Pakistani bank accounts; compare what the recipient will actually receive. Always copy PHWO’s details from the donate page. After sending, submit the confirmation form; the transfer is matched to PHWO’s bank statement and a numbered receipt is emailed.
If a relative is visiting Pakistan, they can also pay for you after arriving, using a local account, which avoids an international fee altogether. Ask them to mention your name so the receipt is issued to you.
Pakistan is three hours ahead of Italy in summer and four in winter. message PHWO from your free PHWO account in your morning and it will be the lunch hour in Larkana.
Ramadan, zakat and fitrana from Italy
Zakat is due after a lunar year on wealth above nisab, and plenty of families in Italy pick Ramadan as their date. Work out your amount with the Zakat calculator, adding cash, bank and postal savings, gold, silver and business stock in a single currency. Fitrana should reach families before Eid prayer. Extra-SEPA transfers can take a few working days, so do not leave it until the last week of Ramadan.
Tax and receipts in Italy
PHWO is not an Italian ETS or ONLUS, and it holds no Italian registration. In general, Italian tax relief does not apply to gifts made to it; for your own situation, ask a commercialista or CAF. The Agenzia delle Entrate publishes Italy’s official tax guidance. The numbered receipt PHWO emails simply confirms your gift. In Pakistan, its application to register as a voluntary social welfare agency is being processed.
Volunteer from Italy as a fundraiser
PHWO welcomes fundraisers who live abroad. In Italy, Pakistani community associations, sports clubs and workplace friendships can all be places to explain what PHWO does. Point people to the donate page so that everyone pays for themselves; please do not gather cash or run a collection in PHWO’s name. Only lawyers enrolled and practising in Pakistan can take on its legal aid files. The Volunteer form is the place to start; volunteers are sent a certificate, a letter of appreciation and an experience letter.
Warning signs with any charity appeal
Messages asking for urgent help spread quickly through WhatsApp groups among Pakistanis in Italy. Some are genuine; some are not. A few are copied from older appeals, with new names and account numbers pasted in. Others use the name of a well-known organisation but send money to a personal wallet. Taking two minutes to check can protect both your money and the people who really need it. Before paying anyone:
- make sure the payee is an organisation and not a private person;
- look for an address you can confirm;
- be cautious of stories that change or photos that look reused;
- never let yourself be rushed.
PHWO’s details are only published on phwo.org. Its office is House 704/C, Lahori Muhalla, Larkana. Anyone else claiming to collect for it in Italy is not authorised.
Public services in Italy you can also use
- Agenzia delle EntrateItaly's revenue agency, official tax guidance
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PakistanFind the Pakistan Embassy in Rome and Consulate in Milan
These are public or independent services, listed to help you. They are not part of PHWO.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send a SEPA bonifico to PHWO?
No. PHWO's account is in Pakistan, so you need an international (extra-SEPA) transfer.
Is PHWO registered in Italy?
No. It has no Italian registration, office or representative.
Can I use a money transfer shop?
If the shop can send into a Pakistani bank account, yes. Use PHWO's details from its donate page and keep the receipt.
Does PHWO send someone to collect at community events in Italy?
No. It has no collectors in Italy. Gifts should only be sent directly to the account listed on phwo.org.
How do I say my gift is zakat?
Write it in the confirmation form on the donate page. Zakat goes into its separate fund.
Can my family in Pakistan ask PHWO for help?
Yes. Anyone in Pakistan can apply through Request help; each request is assessed on its merits.