If every Pakistani in America gave charity to Pakistan every month, wouldn't the country be a better place today?

Its schools would probably have better buildings. Teachers would be better paid. Students could have good quality schoolbooks. Villages could have running water, orphans would have sponsors and many other useful nation-building projects could easily be maintained.

Setting aside some money for Pakistan out of your monthly budget does not require a huge financial commitment. All you need to do is decide how much you can afford, even if it is a paltry sum in your eyes, and put it in a separate account, or even just an envelope for this purpose.

Start thinking of this amount as a fixed monthly expense, something you must pay, just like you have to pay your car payments or rent every month. Once you establish it as a fixed amount that must be given, you can form the habit of saving some of your money every month to give back to Pakistan.

Once you've set your amount, there are different ways of deciding how it will be spent for charitable causes in Pakistan.

You could wait until the money builds up after a few months to give it to the charity of your choice. You can decide, for example, that every six months, the money will be sent to Pakistan. Or you can just arrange to send the money every month. Your decision will probably be influenced by how much you're giving and to what cause. For instace, for smaller amounts, it may be better to wait for the money to accumulate. On the other hand, for some projects with deadlines (i.e. paying for children's school fees) there may be specific times when the money is needed by, so sending the money every month might be more appropriate.

In terms of deciding which charitable causes to support you have a couple of options.

The first place to look for those in need is within your family. Do your parents need help? Do your brother and his family have a hard time making ends meet every month? Has your sister stopped sending one of her children to school because the family cannot afford to send him or her? Is your cousin having a hard time paying off a debt? These are just some examples where your money is most needed. By doing this, you are not only assisting one family in Pakistan, but you are also helping build a better relationship with your relatives.

Decide how the money is going to get to them and who will be in charge of dispensing it. The last thing you want is someone dishonest using the money for his or her purposes instead of the project it was originally intended for.

If there is no one in your family that really needs help you can seek out Pakistani charitable organizations to give your donation to. Many of them offer to deduct the money from your account every month in support of the program you have chosen. It would be a good idea to choose an organization in the U.S. so that if you have any questions or problems, you can easily contact them.

A third option is to fulfill the needs of institutions in a way that can benefit others in Paksitan in the long-term. For example, you can arrange to buy good textbooks for children in a public school or pay for repairs to the building if it is falling apart. You can offer to support a hospital that provides free medical care to those who can't afford it. Or you can arrange to get running water in a village. These are all worthy projects that benefit Pakistanis on a larger scale and in the long run.

Whatever option you choose, stick to your promise every month and either save or send the money, depending on your payment system. Don't be surprised if you find your personal financial situation improving. If that is the case, be even more generous by increasing your monthly amount of charity to reflect your new salary

Finally, encourage your family and friends to do the same. Maybe you can even show them how you have benefitted personally and financially by being generous and giving back to Pakistan.

Date/Time Last Modified: 6/17/2002 3:47:40 PM

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