Anyone hoping to donate to Pakistan from UK banks, you probably have a few questions first. Where will the money go? How does it cross from pounds to rupees? And how do you know the organisation is honest? This page answers those questions for Peace and Humanity Welfare Organization (PHWO), a volunteer-driven welfare body with no party ties, open to every sect, whose only office is in Larkana, Sindh.
PHWO has no branch, representative or collection team in Britain. Nobody in Bradford, Birmingham, Manchester or London collects money for it door to door. You give directly, from your own bank, and the families it supports can live anywhere in Pakistan. Every service it offers them is free.
Why British Pakistanis give through PHWO
Most families of Pakistani heritage in Britain already send money home to relatives. Many also want to reach people outside their own circle: a widow who cannot pay rent, a student who needs fees, a household whose crops were lost to floods. PHWO receives such requests from every province, checks them, and arranges help where a verified need can be met. No outcome is promised to anyone.
The Census 2021 counted about 1.59 million people of Pakistani ethnicity in England and Wales, 2.7 percent of the population. That is a large community with deep roots in Mirpur, Punjab and beyond, and a strong habit of giving in Ramadan.
What your zakat and sadaqah pays for
PHWO keeps zakat separate from other money. Zakat goes only to people who are eligible under Shariah, and none of it pays for running costs. Sadaqah is also kept apart and handed over whole to people who need it. Its work falls into eight areas, described on Programmes:
- education, including fees and laptops for students;
- health, such as medicine and hospital bills;
- women’s empowerment and digital and vocational skills;
- environment and community work;
- poverty relief such as ration, rent and debt;
- emergency relief after floods, fires and earthquakes.
If you would rather help one household whose file has been checked, look at Sponsor a case. PHWO also publishes a page on where money goes, linked from the donate page.
How to donate to Pakistan from UK accounts
PHWO does not take card payments online, and it does not use PayPal. The methods listed on its Donate page are:
- International wire transfer, for donors outside Pakistan. You send it from your UK bank app or branch as a payment abroad.
- Bank transfer inside Pakistan to PHWO’s UBL account, from a Pakistani bank account. If a brother or parent in Pakistan holds one, they can send your gift for you.
- Goods such as ration, clothes, school supplies or medicines, handed in at the Larkana office.
PHWO receives rupees only, so your pounds are converted by your bank or its partner. Ask your bank for the exchange rate and any fee before you confirm, because both vary. The account details are shown on the donate page itself; please copy them from there, not from messages or social media posts. After paying, confirm your transfer on that page. Each transfer is matched with bank records, and a numbered receipt is emailed once confirmed.
Pakistan is four hours ahead of the UK in winter and five hours ahead in British summer time. If you message PHWO from your PHWO account, an early-morning message from Britain reaches Larkana around midday.
Zakat timing and Ramadan
Many British families pay zakat in Ramadan, when rewards are hoped to be greater. You can pay at any point in your zakat year, though. Use the Zakat calculator to total your savings, gold, silver and business stock, then convert the result into rupees at your bank’s rate. Fitrana (sadaqat al-fitr) should arrive before Eid prayers, so send it several days early, because international payments can take time to clear. Say clearly in your confirmation whether the gift is zakat or sadaqah, so it is placed in the right fund.
Volunteering and fundraising from Britain
You do not have to live in Pakistan to help. PHWO welcomes fundraisers abroad: people who tell friends, community groups or colleagues about its work and encourage them to give directly through the donate page. Please never collect cash yourself in PHWO’s name. Legal aid volunteers must be advocates practising in Pakistan, so British solicitors cannot take on those cases, but they may still help as fundraisers. Sign up on Volunteer; volunteers receive a certificate, a letter of appreciation and an experience letter.
Checking any charity safely
Before giving to any cause, British or overseas, take a few minutes to check it. The UK government explains how to find information about a charity. PHWO is not a UK-registered charity and does not appear on those registers; it is a Pakistani organisation whose registration under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies Ordinance 1961 is in process. That also means Gift Aid does not apply, and a donation to it is generally not tax-deductible in the UK. If tax matters to you, ask your own adviser.
Warning signs to watch for with any appeal: pressure to give instantly, requests to pay into a personal account, and stories you cannot check. PHWO never asks donors to pay individuals, and nobody may ask for money in its name.
Public services in United Kingdom you can also use
- GOV.UK: find information about a charityHow to check charities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Charity Commission register of charitiesSearch registered charities in England and Wales
- Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)Charity register for Scotland
- High Commission for Pakistan, LondonConsular services for Pakistanis in the UK
These are public or independent services, listed to help you. They are not part of PHWO.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay PHWO by debit or credit card from the UK?
Not at present. From Britain, the route is an international wire transfer from your bank, or a relative in Pakistan paying by bank transfer to PHWO's UBL account for you.
Can I claim Gift Aid?
No. Gift Aid only applies to UK charities, and PHWO is a Pakistani organisation. Speak to your own tax adviser if you need advice on your situation.
Does PHWO have anyone collecting money in the UK?
No. It has no office or agent in Britain. Supporters may encourage others to give, but money should always go directly through the official donate page.
Will I get a receipt for a transfer from the UK?
Yes. Once your transfer is matched with the bank records, a numbered receipt is sent to your email.
Can my zakat be kept separate?
Yes. Zakat is held apart, used only for eligible recipients and never spent on running costs.