We blindly donate only in order to fulfill the aspect of giving zakat during the month.
HYDERABAD: During Ramazan, Pakistanis are generous in providing charity to NGOs of their choice as it marks one of the aspects of the holy month. From street beggars to donation boxes, there are a very few incidents when the citizens will say no to sharing their purse. Hence, it is no wonder that the CAF World Giving Index, a study on global generosity, ranks Pakistan at 92nd place on the list of most generous countries.
However, often caught in the rut of our daily routines, we rarely take a minute to think about the authenticity of the NGOs we so generously donate to. Without doing a background check on where and who the money goes to, we blindly donate only in order to fulfill the aspect of giving zakat during the month.
For those in need: Donate an organ, save a person’s life
But considering that Ramazan is also the season when many militant organisations secure their yearly funds disguised as charity organisations, we should be very careful on who and where we donate. In a study published in 2015, it was found that some militant groups collect donations from commercial centres and in door-to-door campaigns, allegedly for charitable pursuits, but are quite often operating as a front for militant organisations. Because people donate generously during Ramazan, they don’t think twice before putting their money in these ‘boxes of death’.
Since the authorities concerned haven’t done much in curbing this situation let alone eradicating it, we should be responsible while giving zakat, even if it’s only Rs10 we often put in the boxes brought to us on streets. Even a single penny we unknowingly give to these organisations can cost our or our loved one’s life. So a quick scan on the NGO we want to donate to can go a long way.
Zoya Bukhari
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2017.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
