The Pakistan Humanitarian Forum was formed in 2003 to coordinate and strengthen the efforts of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) working in humanitarian and development assistance. It is an informal body for INGOs in Pakistan. The forum collectively represents INGOs to the Government of Pakistan, United Nations, and the larger humanitarian community and civil society, including the National Humanitarian Network of National NGOs and community-based organisations. There are 44 members and observers of the PHF. For further information visit the PHF website at http://www.pakhumanitarianforum.org/

PHF has a membership of 44 INGOs and 11 observers working in Pakistan. PHF acts as a collective voice of INGOs and through its Secretariat supports information and coordination among the membership. The PHF through its secretariat can work jointly with relevant government departments to ensure a flow of communication and support an INGO coordination cell at the heart of government.

PHF was established as an independent forum in 2003, registered under Trust Act 1882 as “Trust for Pakistan Humanitarian Forum” PHF dated January 25, 2021 with registration No. 334 whereby it started representing, facilitating, and supporting humanitarian assistance and long-term development programming initiatives of its member International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) working in Pakistan.

International Non-Governmental organisations in a country bring technical expertise and innovation. Non-governmental organisations support government initiatives at the grass roots level and provide additional funding to support emergency and development initiatives of the government. INGOs build the capacity of local organisations and also provide job opportunities to local people. In 2017, PHF members collectively raised $438 million and employed over 6000 staff.

International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) are principally and programmatically independent from political, economic, military, or other objectives. The World Bank defines an NGO as ‘an organisation that pursues activities to relieve suffering and/or promote the interests of the poor and/or protect the environment and/ or provide basic social services and/ or undertake community development.’ INGOs are like national NGOs but are international in scope and have offices and programmes around the world to work on specific priorities in different countries.