Lahore: The Punjab Home Department has issued a warning to the public, advising them not to donate to unregistered or proscribed organizations. The department released an updated list of banned groups and emphasized that providing financial support to such entities is a punishable offense under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997.
Authorities have reiterated that organizations involved in terrorism or anti-state activities cannot receive financial assistance from the public. They have urged citizens to ensure their donations, including zakat and charity, go only to organizations registered with the Punjab Charity Commission. Registered charities can be verified through QR codes on their certificates, and a list of approved organizations is available on the commission’s official website: www.charitycommission.punjab.gov.pk.
The statement also outlined measures for reporting suspicious activities, including a toll-free helpline (0800-11111) and additional contact numbers for lodging complaints regarding fraudulent charities or organizations linked to terrorism.
The list of proscribed groups includes Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and various Baloch and Sindhi militant organizations. Several welfare trusts and foundations have also been flagged due to suspected links with extremist networks.
The government urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any fundraising efforts by banned groups to the authorities to prevent their resources from being used for unlawful activities.
