Pakistan has a rich history of social activism and civil society. But the recent increase in terrorist attacks, both within Pakistan’s borders and outside, have put NGOs at risk. In this blog post, we will discuss how legal support and assistance can help NGOs to better protect themselves from risks.
In Pakistan, there are many types of organizations that provide services to people without discrimination based on religion, ethnicity or gender.
These organizations work with government agencies to improve governance by providing essential services such as healthcare, education, and employment opportunities for vulnerable populations including women, children, and families living below the poverty line. The law is an important tool for protecting these organizations but unfortunately, they often lack knowledge about their rights under Pakistani laws or how to enforce them effectively when they face threats?
Legal support is when an NGO provides free or discounted legal services to individuals who can’t afford it on their own. Assistance is when the NGO helps people understand the law by providing them with information, referrals, and other resources. The most common type of assistance that NGOs offer is advocacy for laws that protect vulnerable groups like children or women from abuse or exploitation.
List of NGOs working on providing Free or subsidized legal aid to those who otherwise cannot afford it.
| Logo (Submitted by Orgnizations) | Name and Website | Active Since | Postal Address | Work Overview / Comments (Submitted by Orgnizations. Edited for clarity and content uniqueness) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Legal Aid Women Trust | House no. 36, Street 2 G-10/3 Islamabad, Pakistan. Phone: 051-2212933, 051-2294610 | Provides legal support to women, specially those in prisons. | |
 | CLAAS- Center for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement | 31 Katcha Ferozepur Road, Mozang Chungi, Lahore, PAKISTAN | Legal supports to christian victims of religious intolerance and blasphemy laws in pakistan. | |
 | PAWLA- Pakistan Women Lawyers’ association (no website) | Legal Aid Centre, Room No. 710, 7th Floor, Kashif Centre, Shahrah-e-Faisal Karachi-75530 TEL: 92 -21-3513533 | Legal Aid to women. Also fighting to amend country’s laws that infringe women rights. | |
 | AGHS Legal aid- Child Rights Unit | 131-E/I, Gulberg-III, Lahore, Pakistan.Phone: (92- 42) 35763234-35, 35710709 | ||
 | Pakistan Lawyers Foundation | Suite 1108, 11th Floor, Kashif Centre, Main Shara-e-Faisal Karachi, Pakistan Tel No:(021) 35220318 (021) 35220334 | NPO that provides legal services to those who cannot afford it. | |
 | Sanjog | 528-C, Faisal Town, Lahore, Pakistan Ph +92 42 3520 1528 Legal Aid Karachi office too. | Legal Aid to children in Jails. Also working against child trafficking | |
 | INP-INSAF NETWORK PAKISTAN | 2007 | House 74 – A, Main Margalla road, F – 7/2, Islamabad. Tel : +92 51 260 9771-2 | Advocacy group for reforming laws of pakistan to provide better protection for women. |
 | LRFPK-Legal Rights Forum | 2007 | 31-C, Mezzanine Floor, Commercial Lane-1, Old Sunset Boulevard, Phase-II, DHA, Karachi, Pakistan Tel:(021) 35388695 | A forum for lawyers to interact. Also has programs for capacity building of lawyers |
 | NLWA-Noor Lawyers Welfare Association | 2008 | Suite # 103/A , 1st Floor , Light House Centre, M.A Jinnah Road, Karachi. Office : 0092-213-2013810 Mobile: 0092-333-2175606 | Focuses on assisting youth in legal matters as well as reforming them. |
| LHRLA- Lawyers For Human Rights and Legal Aid(website down) | D-1, First Floor, Court View Apartment, Opposite Sindh Assembly Building, Court Road, Karachi Tel: 021-35219902/021-35674031 | |||
| AGHS Legal Aid cell | 1980 | 131 E/1 Gulberg III, Lahore, PakistanPhone number: (92-42) 576-3234; 576-3235; 571-0709 | ||