To contribute new perspectives and resources to the development of our country, Pakistan Human Development Fund (PHDF) was created in 2002, as a tripartite partnership between the civil society, the Government of Pakistan and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The Government committed US $ 32 million, the UNDP provided a grant of US $ 1.75 million and individual Pakistanis contributed a further US $ 2.5 million to kick-start the bold initiative. I am proud that most of the individual contributions have come from Pakistani Americans and do hope that in future too this community of true patriots will remain committed to the cause. Their contribution is an investment into the country’s future.

The core vision of PHDF recognizes three areas: poverty alleviation, literacy and healthcare. A multi-sector, integrated program has been introduced to cause not just drastic improvement but a paradigm shift in policy to enhance the whole developmental process.

You may think that there are many NGOs working in similar areas but the nationwide scale of PHDF and its overreaching objectives sets it apart. Through it’s implementation partner, the National Commission for Human Development, it has already successfully set up operations in 16 districts all over Pakistan. Nearly one million out of school children have been enrolled into four thousand primary schools. 800,000 mothers are now trained and educated in basic child care.

Though these numbers are not yet enormous, they are bound to increase Inshallah with the support and care of the Pakistani American Diaspora. As the PHDF strives to generate more resources for expansion in its projects of universal primary education, basic primary healthcare, poverty alleviation and gender equity, I am confident that the robust Pakistani American community will come forward and participate in building a healthier, wealthier and a better educated Pakistan.