August 2025
Pakistan faces recurring natural disasters that devastate lives, destroy infrastructure and strain an already fragile economy. Floods, landslides and earthquakes regularly plague the country. The 2022 monsoon floods submerged one‑third of the nation, affecting 33 million people, and in 2025 another monsoon season killed more than 800 people and damaged dozens of homes in the southwestern province of Balochistan. These catastrophes highlight a stark reality: Pakistan needs sustained, diversified and targeted funding to mitigate the impacts of disaster and build long‑term resilience.
Philanthropic and humanitarian foundations
- Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) – supports locally led flood recovery initiatives.
- Conrad N. Hilton Foundation – has provided emergency grants for Pakistan’s flood relief.
- Education Cannot Wait (ECW) – funds emergency education and psychosocial support.
- Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) – partners with Qatar Charity to deploy mobile medical clinics.
- Government of Japan / Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – funds health equipment and flood management projects.
- United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – announced major humanitarian aid packages for flood response.
- Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) – coordinates member-charity appeals to raise funds for flood relief.
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – supports flood recovery and health initiatives.
- Qatar Charity – contributes significant funding for flood relief and rehabilitation.
- United Nations pooled funds – releases emergency funds during major disaster events.
- People’s Republic of China – provides grants for housing reconstruction in flood-affected areas.
- World Bank – offers financing for housing reconstruction and resilience-building initiatives.
One of the most notable players in disaster philanthropy is the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP). In 2022 and 2023, CDP’s Global Recovery Fund—supported by Google—channeled nearly one million U.S. dollars directly to Pakistani non‑governmental organizations. Grants ranged from $78,846 for The Citizens Foundation to $495,000 for Relief International, helping families rebuild homes, restore livelihoods and stay safe. This hyper‑local funding model ensures that resources reach communities that know their needs best.
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation provided critical aid during the 2010 floods, committing $750,000 for immediate relief. Grants supported organizations like Oxfam America and BRAC USA to improve water, sanitation and agricultural resilience. Similarly, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) released a $5 million emergency fund in 2022 to keep children learning despite widespread school closures. Their partnership with ACTED and UNICEF aims to reach over 80,000 students with temporary classrooms and psychosocial support.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has also invested in Pakistan’s recovery. In 2011, the foundation provided $3.8 million toward flood relief and polio eradication efforts. Meanwhile, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) raised more than £30 million from donors in the U.K. during the 2022 floods, offering food, clean water, shelter and cash assistance.
Government and multilateral donors
Government‑to‑government support and multilateral finance remain essential. In December 2024, the Government of Japan signed grant agreements totaling roughly $28.58 million. These projects will equip 21 health facilities in flood‑affected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with maternal and child health equipment and install 45 hydrological monitoring networks to improve flood management. Japan’s investment underscores a “build back better” approach that aims to reduce future losses while strengthening healthcare and infrastructure.
The United States, through USAID, pledged $30 million in August 2022 for immediate flood relief, focusing on food, shelter, cash assistance and water and sanitation services. On the other hand, World Bank financing targets long‑term recovery; in late 2024 it approved an additional $450 million to expand a housing reconstruction program in Sindh that prioritizes resilient building techniques and sanitation.
International pooled funds are also crucial. In August 2025, the UN released $600,000 from a regional emergency pool to bolster Pakistan’s monsoon response. This quick injection of cash helps to mobilize local agencies and provide shelter, medical care and cash to families displaced by flooding.
Emerging donors and local partnerships
New donors are stepping up with targeted assistance. The Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and Qatar Charity signed a grant agreement in December 2024 to operate twelve mobile medical clinics across flood‑affected districts. These clinics—staffed with doctors, nurses and educators—are expected to serve more than 530,000 people and provide vital medicines and health education.
China’s role is also growing. Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Division reported that by July 2025 China had disbursed a $6 million grant for rebuilding homes in Balochistan after recent floods. Local news outlets confirmed that the grant aims to provide durable housing to displaced families and underscores Beijing’s ongoing commitment to infrastructure and social welfare.
The bigger picture
Aid flows documented by the UN Financial Tracking Service illustrate the breadth of global support. The United States, Germany, the U.K., UAE, Saudi Arabia, Canada and several philanthropic organizations collectively contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to the 2022 flood response. These figures highlight the collaborative nature of disaster aid and the persistent need for diverse funding sources.
While philanthropic grants often grab headlines, sustained resilience requires more than emergency cash injections. Investments in education, health systems, and flood management infrastructure are key to reducing long‑term vulnerability. The shift toward locally led funding—seen in CDP’s grants to community‑based organizations—is encouraging, as it empowers local actors who understand the nuanced needs of their communities. Ultimately, a combination of swift emergency relief, long‑term development investments and community‑driven approaches will determine how effectively Pakistan can weather its next disaster.
