We Accelerate and Scale Positive Change Across Pakistan
The largest, sector-agnostic, mixed capital fund led by and for social entrepreneurs in Pakistan
Bottom Line Up Front
Pakistan is the world’s largest and most underserved market for social finance and impact.
Against extraordinary growth and poverty challenges, Pakistanis continue to achieve scalable, proven results. But the severity of these problems continues to outpace these leaders and solutions. In rooms of power worldwide, with the ability to change this dynamic, Pakistan remains underrepresented.
The Friends of Pakistan Society and Fund mission is to increase impact capital flows to social entrepreneurs in Pakistan so they can achieve positive change at scale.
We do this by investing directly into and connecting credible, trusted, on- the-cusp of scale Pakistan doers with proven champions globally. This combined power unlocks meaningful funding, amplifies inspirational stories, informs policy, and ultimately shifts mindsets on Pakistan’s potential.
Our Purpose
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The multitude of growth and poverty problems are not static, and impact more and more Pakistanis daily.
The evidence is clear: Pakistan is unique in its size and vulnerability to a range of familiar challenges the world faces. It’s over 250 million people (work rank top 5) are exposed the worst effects of climate change vulnerability (top 5), to educational outcomes (bottom 20), to poverty rate (bottom 50), and much more.
As one leading, global philanthropist put it" “So goes Pakistan, so goes the world.” If a development challenge can be solved in Pakistan given its unique social, political, economic, technological, and environmental dynamics - we believe the lessons are a blueprint for all people and the planet.
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In a crowded field of NGO, corporate, and public actors, social entrepreneurs are not a sideshow anymore.
Often local charity projects and national programs leave behind both the average Pakistani and social doer. The landscape is dominated by unaccountable government agents, exploitative for-profit businesses, and distrusted NGOs. Globally, myths and stigmas about Pakistan keep out assistance that readily goes to other regions.
A generation of social entrepreneurs identify unjust problems and develop a product or service and inspire additional change that combined are scalable solutions.
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There are significant financial flows, in the billions of USD, to tap into for Pakistani social entrepreneurs.
Pakistanis and their champions are incredibly generous, but the harsh reality is the immense resource need. Annually Pakistan receives only:
$2.5B in foreign investment
$3B in institutional philanthropy
$15.7B in aid
$38.3B in remittances
Myths and stigma negatively influence major investment beyond politically tied foreign aid/debt, costly private capital, and highly fragmented diaspora remittances.
Our Services
We offer value through specialized and integrated offerings for doers, funders, or general champions of social entrepreneurship in Pakistan.
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Learn about Pakistan-focused, proven, ready-to-scale products and services including the social entrepreneurs and champions behind them
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Build your pipeline, deliver rigorous due diligence, and deploy all forms of capital (i.e., grant, debt, equity) to Pakistan-focused social entrepreneurs.
To learn more about our $100M intermediary, pooled fund please see our “Fund” tab
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Meet to drive action in support of Pakistan social entrepreneurship, through regular in-country and global convenings (e.g., Skoll World Forum, UN General Assembly week) and fellowship placements
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Promote creative and compelling storytelling that reflects the on-the-ground reality in Pakistan and advance social entrepreneurship
How to Engage
We are interested in helping to advance your work. Friends of Pakistan is need of your engagement and endorsement. Reach out to us today!