ISLAMABAD: Mr. Halil Demir, founder and CEO of the Zakat Foundation of America, visited the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety on October 17, 2026, where he met Federal Minister Syed Imran Ahmad Shah.
After traveling from the United States, Mr. Halil Demir and his delegation were cordially welcomed by Federal Minister Syed Imran Ahmad Shah. Zakat Foundation Pakistan representatives and Nadir Gul Barech, CEO of the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), also attended the meeting.
A thorough discussion of potential areas of mutual cooperation to reduce poverty, bolster social protection, and enhance the welfare of worthy and vulnerable elements of Pakistani society took place during the conference.
The two dignitaries discussed the possibility of joint initiatives to support deserving families, widows, orphaned children, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
The participants also explored opportunities for collaboration in education, healthcare, women’s economic empowerment, skills development, and employment generation.
Potential cooperation in providing relief to people affected by natural disasters and emergencies, facilitating access to basic healthcare services, and enabling deserving families to achieve sustainable economic self-reliance was also discussed.
Federal Minister Syed Imran Ahmad Shah reaffirmed the Government of Pakistan’s commitment to poverty alleviation and to ensuring economic and social protection for vulnerable segments of society. He observed that effective partnerships between international charitable organizations and government institutions could further improve access to essential services for those in need.
The Federal Minister emphasized that sustainable poverty alleviation requires more than financial assistance alone. He underscored the importance of equipping deserving individuals with access to education, skills development, employment, and economic opportunities to enable them to achieve lasting self-reliance.
With an emphasis on the efficient use of resources and the execution of welfare programs meant to enhance the lives of underprivileged people, the participants also talked about possible cooperation between the Zakat Foundation and the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund.
Both sides emphasized at the meeting’s conclusion how crucial it is to improve coordination and look into new avenues for future collaboration in the areas of social protection, poverty alleviation, and humanitarian welfare.