Christian in Jaranwala need immediate support

Pak Mission Society – GlobalGiving Report

Name of organization - Pak Mission Society

Donor – GlobalGiving

Legal status

• Registration act XXI of 1860 KPK Reg: # 477/5/5417
• Economic Affairs Division - Islamabad
• Permission from Deputy Commissioner Sindh
• District Health Officer Sindh
• Local Administration Sindh

Project Activity:   Christian in Jaranwala Need Immediate Support (#60944)

Target Union Councils of Faisalabad District:

Tehsil Jaranwala, Faisalabad District, in Pakistan

Reporting Period

September to December 2023

Title of Report

Happiness packs for Jaranwala children - Pakistan

About Pak Mission Society:

Pak Mission Society (PMS) is a national relief and development organization established in 2004 and registered on 13th February 2008 under the Societies’ Registration act XXI of 1860 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Economic Affairs Division (EAD), Government of Pakistan in November 2017.  PMS was founded by a group of Christian professionals whose collective vision is to bring hope and love by responding to human sufferings and disasters through emergency relief efforts and delivering long-term rehabilitation and development programme.  Ever since, PMS is serving unreached and underprivileged communities in impoverished areas regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, class, religion and social background.

Executive Summary:

The Jaranwala indecent took place on August 16, 2023 and marked a distressing episode of violence targeting the Christian community in Faisalabad area of Pakistan. A violent mob of hundreds ransacked and torched nearly two dozen churches, attacked the residences of members of the Christian community and the office of the local assistant commissioner in Jaranwala. According to estimates compiled by Faisalabad’s district administration, at least 22 churches ransacked by mobs suffered damages to the tune of Rs29.1 million whereas 91 houses which bore the brunt of violence suffered losses to the tune of Rs38.5m. Additionally, the violence extended to Christian homes and even a cemetery, where crosses were desecrated and Bibles were burned. The intensity of the fires was such that even concrete and brick structures were consumed.

The sensitivity surrounding blasphemy in Pakistan's religious landscape can ignite strong emotions, often leading to tragic outcomes. The speed at which these accusations spread, aided by mosque broadcasts, underscores the potency of religious sentiments and their potential to incite mob behavior. This incident shed light on the precarious religious and social dynamics within the country, where allegations of blasphemy can quickly escalate into large-scale violence, target killing and destruction of minority houses and religious or worship places. Similar events followed this event starting from the burning of churches, and Christian houses, and properties, forcing many Christians to flee their homes for safety.

The aftermath of the Jaranwala incident left the Christian community in a state of distress and fear. Many were forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge in fields or wherever shelter could be found. The attack not only had a material impact but also underscored the vulnerability of minority communities in Pakistan's religiously charged environment.

Project Objective:

• To provide material for humanity dignity and lifesaving support to traumatized children, women and girls who lost everything during the ransacking of their houses.
• To provide food ration and cooked food support to the most vulnerable families who lost their livelihoods, were traumatized and out of fear got stuck at home.

Implementation Methodology: 

The project team based on the selection criteria, carried out door-to-door visits to reach the most deserving beneficiaries. The local committee and Church leadership was also consulted for the selection of beneficiaries.

Activity:  

GlobalGiving funds USD2200 were utilized to bring smiles to the school going children and for this purpose PMS designed Happiness packs which were distributed among the 150 children in Jaranwala. An Appeal was launched by PMS after conducting the detailed need assessment of the families directly affected in the incident. After having a detailed discussion with the local pastors, it was finalized that children are the most vulnerable segment their needs should be addressed on priority. The Children were identified by the Church pastors of 5 different denominations directly affected in the incident. The Distribution was organized at Presbyterian Church Jaranwala on 30 November 2023. Mr. Nafar Iqbal (Social Welfare Officer), Jaranwala was the Chief Guest. The Happiness Packs Included:

ITEMS / QTY (For 150 Children)

1. Coloring Book (3 in 1)

2. Color Pencil Box

3. Warm Socks

4. Pair of Gloves

5. Sweets & Chocolate Pack

6. Ludo Game

Challenges:

• Due to severe cold PMS could deliver limited item package to the children.
• PMS based on its interventions has learnt that the bigger challenge at the moment is that the community is facing sever lack of livelihood options due to being overlooked by the majority community, who generally see them as outcast and excluded group.

The Lesson Learned:

• There were large number of children of school going age and hence the pack included some items such as coloring books and Ludo Game (a group play tablet) to serve as a stress reliever and serve many children. However, as per the need we wish we could do more for the unserved children in the area.  

• It has been observed that most of the relief efforts are being carried out in the concentrated areas near township whereas outskirts and far off areas such as Bricklin and scattered minority households are being neglected.

Co-ordination with Government

PMS has established long-standing goodwill and working relationships with the district administration at the provincial and district levels. Moreover, the designated officials especially Social Welfare Department and the Deputy Commissioner of Jaranwala are consulted and coordinated in terms of selection of target areas to avoid duplications and proper inclusion of the most deserving beneficiaries.

Co-ordination with other Projects

PMS has prioritized Faisalabad district and has designed community development projects to uplift youth and women folks, who lack livelihoods trainings and skill set to earn a decent living. Among the mainstream beneficiaries from Faisalabad, PMS has also included Jaranwala community both youth and women in the Green Church project, choosing one of the affected churches in Jaranwala, to turned it as Model Green Church. Moreover, PMS is in the process of establishing Entre’sol Lab for the youth in collaboration with government vocational institute of Jaranwala for economic empowerment of the youth.