Pakistanis in the Kingdom work in construction, driving, hospitals, engineering, shops and offices, and many give generously every Ramadan. If you are looking for a way to donate to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia that reaches families outside your own household, read on to see how Peace and Humanity Welfare Organization (PHWO) operates and how a gift from the Kingdom travels.
PHWO is a Pakistani welfare organisation, run mostly by volunteers, with one office only, in Larkana, Sindh. It does not operate in Saudi Arabia in any form: there is no representative, no collection box and no agent in Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah or the Eastern Province. The families it serves pay nothing for its help.
Why expatriates in the Kingdom give through PHWO
People who have left Pakistan to earn a living understand better than anyone what happens when a household loses its income. PHWO receives appeals from all over the country: a tailor in Multan whose shop burned down, an orphaned girl in Quetta needing school fees, an elderly couple in Tharparkar unable to buy flour after a drought. Volunteers check each appeal, which comes with a live photo of the applicant. If the story holds up and a response is within reach, something is organised for the family. Nobody who applies is told help is certain.
Everything is handled remotely and through volunteers, so a request from Chitral is treated the same as one from Larkana itself.
How PHWO uses zakat and sadaqah
Zakat from the Kingdom goes into a fund of its own. It is spent only on people who are eligible to receive zakat, and never on office costs. Sadaqah is also held apart and every riyal-turned-rupee of it goes to people in need.
Requests most often ask for monthly ration, help clearing a debt, or a laptop to study or find work. Medical bills, fees, rent and disaster losses follow. You can read the full list of working areas on Programmes, or choose Sponsor a case if you want your gift to support one household whose request has already been checked.
Ways to donate to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia
PHWO has no card payment system and no PayPal. The Donate page offers these options:
- International wire transfer from your Saudi bank to PHWO’s account in Pakistan. Licensed remittance services that deliver into Pakistani bank accounts can also be used.
- A bank transfer inside Pakistan to the UBL account, from a Pakistani bank account, either your own or a relative’s.
- Goods, such as ration, blankets, school bags or medicine, delivered to the Larkana office when you are home on leave.
PHWO receives only Pakistani rupees; your riyals will be converted by the sending bank or remittance service. Rates and fees differ, so compare before sending. Rely on the donate page for account details; a forwarded message could be altered. Then submit the confirmation form on that page. When the payment is matched with PHWO’s records, you will get a numbered receipt by email.
Pakistan is two hours ahead of Saudi Arabia. A message sent from your PHWO account after Asr in Riyadh reaches Larkana in the early evening.
Ramadan, Hajj season and your zakat year
Many Pakistanis in the Kingdom calculate zakat in Ramadan and send it before the last ten nights. Others pay after Hajj season or on another date that marks their lunar year. Whatever your date, the Zakat calculator helps you total cash, gold, silver and trading stock. If your savings are split between riyals and rupees, convert everything into one currency first. Fitrana must reach the needy before Eid prayer, and Eid holidays close banks in both countries, so send it in good time and mark it as sadaqah when confirming.
Fundraising and volunteering from the Gulf
PHWO’s volunteers include fundraisers abroad, and more are needed. You can mention its work to your colleagues or your community and pass on the link to PHWO’s own donate page. Do not gather cash from others, hold it, or present yourself as PHWO’s agent. Legal aid is given only by advocates practising in Pakistan; lawyers working in Saudi Arabia may still help as fundraisers. Register through Volunteer to receive a certificate, a letter of appreciation and an experience letter.
Checking a charity and avoiding fake appeals
Collecting donations in public is closely regulated in Saudi Arabia, and PHWO does not collect there at all. Sending your own money from your own account to an organisation in Pakistan is a personal transfer; your bank can tell you about any rules that apply.
Fake appeals circulate widely on social media. Signs of trouble include a personal mobile wallet number instead of an organisation’s account, pressure to pay within the hour, or photos that appear under different names. PHWO’s accounts are listed only on its own website. It is a Pakistani organisation whose registration with the provincial social welfare authorities is in progress.
Supporting the Rishta Desk and legal aid from abroad
Two other PHWO services matter to families in the Kingdom. The Rishta Desk is free for Pakistani and Muslim families worldwide β in Pakistan, in the Kingdom and anywhere abroad β welcomes every faith, and checks each profile with a live selfie and a PHWO staff review; parents and children make the choices, and a match is never promised. Free legal aid connects people in Pakistan with volunteer advocates, mostly for family cases such as maintenance and custody. If a relative back home needs advice, they can apply themselves without needing an FIR.
Public services in Saudi Arabia you can also use
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PakistanFind the Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate General in Jeddah
These are public or independent services, listed to help you. They are not part of PHWO.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send zakat from an Al Rajhi or other Saudi bank account?
Yes, any Saudi bank that sends international transfers to Pakistani bank accounts can be used. Copy the details from PHWO's donate page.
Does PHWO have a representative in Saudi Arabia?
No. It has no office, agent or collector in the Kingdom. Give only through the accounts on its website.
Can my brother in Pakistan pay for me?
Yes. He can pay by bank transfer to PHWO's UBL account and state that the gift is yours so the receipt is in your name.
How do I know my zakat was not spent on salaries?
Zakat sits in its own fund, and PHWO never uses it for running costs. Its where-your-money-goes page explains this further.
What time should I call from Saudi Arabia?
Pakistan is two hours ahead. Calls during Saudi morning or afternoon reach Pakistani working hours; messages can be sent any time through the contact form.