Real Life Stories
Every story deserves to be seen
Empowering Communities to Seek Help Without Hesitation
In Malikpur, and in the villages around it, small clinics and quacks have long existed. Yet, people from these communities have mostly been reluctant to visit them. Not because they were far, but because trust was missing. They didn’t know what to expect inside, who they would meet or how they would be treated. So, they stayed away. Read More
In a world increasingly divided by borders, documents, and politics, we often forget that suffering and pain doesn’t ask for nationality, so compassion shouldn’t either.
Children don’t choose their birthplace. They don’t decide their legal status, ethnicity, or the burdens they are born into. What they do feel, however, is hunger, pain, and helplessness.
Born to Afghan refugee parents, NaimatUllah, a 10-year-old boy, has spent most of his childhood carrying responsibilities no child should. Without a valid identity card, his family faced one closed Read More
Zubaida and Rs. 2000 worth of a normal walk
Zubaida might have spent her whole life thinking her legs were just weak, that something was wrong with her. But all she needed was Vitamin D, a treatment that only cost Rs. 2000. Yes, that little.
In communities like hers, no one talks about nutrition or early intervention. Children suffer from stunted growth, bone weakness and many similar issues because problems are ignored until they become permanent. Read More
Today we have enough money to celebrate Matiullah’s birthday this year
For Naghma, a mother of three expecting her fourth child, the chance to celebrate her son Mattiullah’s birthday during Ramazan is a gift she never thought possible.
Thanks to the savings she’s made through MCHPC’s support, Naghma is now able to plan a small family gathering-something she never imagined she could afford, yet now it’s a chance to create precious moments of joy for her children. Read More
She Was Just a Child
Rozina, a resident of Saggiyan, was married at the age of 12 and got pregnant immediately after. While early marriages may be a norm in her community, it does not change the fact that she was still a child, and expecting a child at such a young age is far from normal. The emotional and physical toll of such a burden is unimaginable for a child to endure. When Rozina came to one of our Lady Health Workers, the first thing our health worker said was, “We cannot undo what has already happened, but we will do everything to prevent it from getting worse.” We provided her with thorough check-ups and facilitated her referral to a government hospital for a safe delivery.
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She Thought She Was Helping
For many families in Pakistan, visiting a doctor for every illness isn’t always an option. The cost of treatment, travel, and missed work can be overwhelming. So, they often rely on medicines that previously worked for one family member to treat others with similar symptoms. Fatima’s situation was much the same. She believed she was doing what was best for her baby. After all, the deworming syrup had healed her 8-year-old sister at the MCHPC center in Saggian. So, when her infant son Nisar showed similar signs, she gave him the same medicine. But Nisar’s small body couldn’t handle it; he soon developed severe diarrhoea and had to be rushed back to the center.
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She Wanted Others To Know: Help Exists.
There are countless women like Masarat, each bearing their hardship and struggles, but what sets this Masarat apart is her relentless struggle, managing a household with five children, balancing survival on a thin thread. Before the Mother and Child Health Promotion center opened, every time her children fell ill, she faced an impossible choice: spend her scarce money on medicine or on food to feed her family. The MCHPC became a lifeline when she learned it provides free medical care and medicine. When she first arrived, there was a desperation in her voice, shaped by years of stretching every rupee just to survive. But within those clinic walls, for the first time in years, she felt seen, not as a burdened mother, but as a woman who mattered.
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Now My Children Will Be Educated
“ہم غریب لوگ ہیں، ہم کیا کر سکتے ہیں؟” a sentence we hear often. Not out of helplessness, but shaped by years of limited access, unanswered questions, and mindsets passed down over generations. Fozia was one of our regular patients — a mother of eight, living in a community where traditional beliefs often guide daily lives. During the weekly visit, our community mobilizer went to Fozia’s house, where she saw that none of her kids went to school and none of them had ever been vaccinated.
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A Home in Every Heart: The Spirit of Changa Manga
We often talk about the strength of communities, but meeting Hanifa in Changa Manga showed us their true meaning.
Hanifa’s story isn’t just about survival—it’s about the love and unity of a close-knit community. Now in her twilight years, Hanifa has endured unimaginable loss, losing her husband and all four of her children.
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A FATHER’S STRUGGLE FOR CLEAN WATER AND HEALTHCARE FOR HIS FAMILY
For years, the people of Saggian have battled diseases caused by contaminated water, yet they had no other choice but to consume it. Children fell ill, families suffered, and the cycle of sickness never seemed to end. Muhammad Daud is also a part of this community who was waiting for an opportunity that could take them out of this helplessness.
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Breathing should not be a luxury, let’s make it a right for all.
In Changa Manga, Nabila works in the fields while silently battling asthma. Her husband, lost to addiction, offers no support.
With no money to spend on her treatment, she kept bearing it. One season after another.
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We want you to meet Faisal and his family.
Unlike many men in his community who hesitate to bring their wives or children to health centers due to the cultural pressure, he didn’t hesitate. The day he heard that a Mother and Child Health center had opened in his area, he brought his 10-month-old daughter Hiba and his wife for a check-up.
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FROM DOUBT TO TRUST: MOHAMMAD UMAR’S STORY OF CHANGE
In a community where health awareness is still growing, Mohammad Umar’s journey reflects a significant shift. Initially, he was doubtful about MCHPC Saggian and discouraged his family from seeking care there. Umar runs a shop near the center, and he often sees others benefitting from the help they received.
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You Can’t Save Everyone. But You Can Try.
In 2023, our hearts were broken by the story of baby Iqra, a six-month-old girl battling pneumonia and a weak heart. Her condition was critical, and her family was facing severe financial hardship. We stepped in to support them in every way we could, holding onto hope for her recovery. After a few weeks, Read More
It’s not about perfect parenting. It’s about never giving up.
It’s Always the Mother, They Say – But That Day, a Father Fought Alone
We’re used to seeing mothers in hospitals — rushing through corridors, staying up all night by their child’s side, asking the doctors a hundred questions. And while fathers do show up, it’s rare to see one carrying the entire weight on his own — no mother in sight, just him and his child.
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Why Did They Pick Up Sweets Without Asking?
They were eight children running, playing, and laughing through the dusty streets. Life didn’t offer them much. But that day, it offered sweets (میٹھای) left behind in an empty rickshaw.
Three children died, and five barely survived after eating sweets meant for dogs.
The Sweets had poison in them left for the stray dogs. It’s a tragedy. Read More
کھیتی باڑی، چھانگا مانگا
اور دوائی کی ضرورت
In a place like Changa Manga, life moves with the rhythm of nature. People rise with the sun, work in the fields, and rely on their hard-earned money.
Small illnesses don’t concern them, life goes on.
Musarat felt the same. For four years, hypertension and diabetes were part of her routine, something she never paid much attention to. Why? Because there was no nearby facility where she could get free medicine in the morning, and the hospital was too far to visit daily.Read More
My Heart Aches Every Day, Mourning the Loss of my 18-year-old to Asthma
This is just one story; there are thousands of people enduring similar hardships, but their voices remain unheard.
The biggest catastrophe for a mother is witnessing the loss of her child. I endured this agony when my 18-year-old son succumbed to asthma while working in the field during harvesting season.
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Clean Water is the Foundation of Human Health.
As water constitutes 70 percent of the body, human health largely relies on clean water. The dirty water causes gastrointestinal diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, and worm infestations in the people leading to malnutrition stunting and even death. Although our Mother and Child Health Promotion Centers (MCHPCs) play a crucial role in providing medical support to underprivileged communities, there is a dire need for a permanent solution to eliminate these waterborne diseases.
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PAHCHAAN was the only پہچان for this Girl
She was abandoned by her own family, and being a child with special needs, she was unable to speak.
Every child craves love, and special children, with their unique needs, demand even more attention and care. Only parents can comprehend their unique language and fulfill those needs. In a recent case, we encountered a 5-year-old special needs girl abandoned at a local hospital in Lahore by her attendant.
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From Rahim Yar Khan to Lahore
PAHCHAAN’s Role in A Journey of Challenges
Our lives took an unexpected turn when my husband’s leg was crushed in a car accident. This us to relocate from Rahim Yar Khan to Lahore in search of better medical care. The medical bills for his operation were daunting, and with minimal resources, we faced severe financial struggles.
In the harsh descent from factory work to garbage picking, PAHCHAAN becomes the sanctuary of hope.
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MCHPC’s Commitment to ٹیٹنس Awareness
In most of the areas of Punjab, donkey carts remain a prevalent mode of daily commute. As the water source is quite far from the locale, young boys have to travel a long way to bring water to their homes. This additional responsibility of fetching water, often exposes them to physical strain and the looming threat of diseases from animals, such disease are frequently transmitted through the bites of stray dogs, wandering donkeys, and other wild animals.
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From Despair to Hope: A Tale of a Daughter’s Heart Condition
The revelation of my daughter’s heart problem was a bolt from the blue for me. I felt utterly helpless, with tears being my only solace.
My four-year-old daughter used to be dizzy and crying all day. My husband is unemployed and our financial condition is not at a point where we can run the house properly. Later on, thinking about the hospitalization life I was terrified. I went to the PAHCHAAN Mother and Child Health Promotion Center where my daughter was examined, knowing her condition they referred her instantly to the Children Hospital, but I could not take her there.
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Dedication and Hardwork Never Goes Unrewarded
A glimpse into the daily struggles of community mobilizers fighting community resistance.
In underprivileged areas where our centers operate, dedicated female community mobilizers face numerous difficulties during door-to-door visits. In spite of their passion, residents often greet them skeptically, bombarding them with questions about identity and purpose. As a project coordinator Khushhal Khandan, I get to know their experiences.
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PAHCHAAN’s Two More Khushhal Khandan Projects are on their Way
PAHCHAAN’s Upcoming Projects Showcase its Continuous Efforts to Save the Lives of those in Need
For nearly two decades, PAHCHAAN has been unwavering in its commitment to family support across Punjab. Every year, we receive countless stories of children, adults, men, and women finding relief in our centers. We firmly believe that enhancing the lives of families through access to crucial healthcare, psychological well-being, and primary education is the key to securing a brighter future for generations to come.
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The Burden of Responsibility on the Timid Shoulders of Grandmother
Team PAHCHAAN remains a steadfast companion, providing social support in their lives.
A few months back, in 2023, a girl Arooj came to the local hospital with complicated typhoid and severe neglect. Concerned about her physical and psychological well-being, we inquired why a 65-year-old woman was looking after a 9-year-old. We guessed it right that she was not the mother, but her grandmother. Since her daughter’s death during childbirth, her two children became the grandmother’s responsibility.
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“We are not only Thinking but Working to Make Pakistan Better.”
Recognizing that not everyone requires state-of-the-art health institutions, our emphasis is on providing basic healthcare to the 240 million people in Pakistan who can benefit from preventive services and if sick, can be managed before the need for hospitals arises. Considering that about 2/3rd of the population resides away from urban areas, basic healthcare centers become vital and imperative for the communities.
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An Unusual Case of a Child Having no one but PAHCHAAN
This time, we encountered an unusual case of a father who had passed away and the only child was abandoned in an empty house by the mother. There could be multiple reasons for her leaving her 7-year-old son, but the only thing we can think of was poverty and difficult life. We were happy that, luckily, he had not fallen into any wrong hands and from the day this abandoned child came to us, the first thing was to shelter him. Today, though the child is in the Child Protection Welfare Bureau we wonder what would have happened if we had not found him timely?
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Thanks to our Donors
ILM Power Center expresses its deepest gratitude to the brands for their commendable efforts in manufacturing energy-rich biscuits and other products that contribute to the physical and mental nourishment of growing children. Our mission is to provide free education to children from underprivileged backgrounds. Many of these children face nutritional challenges, and for them, a simple pack of biscuits or a piece of a cupcake is a luxury beyond their means.
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10 years gone….in 10 minutes
“Brick by brick, with sweat and blood, I had built my house. Every rupee my wife and I saved over the years was dedicated to making this place. “One day, it will be worth it!” we reassured each other. All we wanted was a place we could call home-where we could live out our days in peace, together. 10 years… that’s how long it took to build it. Then the flood came, and in 10 minutes, it ruthlessly destroyed everything we had. All that remains now is a rubble of bricks submerged under 7 feet of water. Read More
PAHCHAAN-Teaching Parents How to Keep Their Children Safe in Wilson’s Disease
This is the case of 8-year-old Jamal from Sheikhupura whose father couldn’t afford special diet for his son, who had Wilson’s disease. It is a genetic condition where our body cannot eliminate excessive copper and damages vital organs like brain and liver leading to formation of fluid sacs in legs and feet. Patients with this disease must avoid leafy green vegetables, peas, and cocoa. However, the child’s father, a daily wager, could only provide his family with the vegetables that were lethal for his son. Read More
From Despair towards Hope
8-year-old Jaleel from Basti Sahu, Punjab came to us with tears in his eyes. A snake had bitten him on his foot 3 days ago and he could barely walk. مینوں بس خوشی ایے کہ میں نئی مریا He said sadly. The words of this little child shook us. The wound on his foot had caused his skin to tear apart. We directed him to a medical camp, where his wound was promptly dressed and he was given the medicines that he desperately needed. Read More
A Child’s Child
When 8-month-old Jannat came under our protection, she was severely underweight. The pain we felt multiplied when we met the 16-year-old mother, Sumaira, who was just as malnourished as her baby. These are children we can never say no to. When we looked at the fragile 16-year-old mother, we wondered how a child could possibly raise another child… The generosity of our donors enabled us to provide milk, diapers, medicines and supplements for baby Jannat and her mother. We also advised Sumaira about the importance of breastfeeding, nutrition, and hygiene practices for the betterment of the baby and herself. Read More
PAHCHAAN – Working for Mental Well-being of Children
PAHCHAAN continues to be a ray of hope for the marginalized factions of society. We are the first organization to offer psychological counseling in the flood-affected districts of Punjab. The most recent efforts of PAHCHAAN include:
- participation in a walk on 5th January to highlight the need to offer social and moral support to children suffering from trauma.
- A lecture was presented by Dr. Naeem Zafar on 8th January to school teachers on the importance of understanding the well-being of children so that they can learn in a stress-free environment.
- Provision of mental health services to youth from different educational institutes on 15th January. Read More
For the innocent souls who have no one else….they have PAHCHAAN
It is most heart-shattering when the ones who are supposed to protect us fiercely, become our tormenters. This is especially true for defenseless, young children who solely rely on the undying love and care of their parents while growing up. This story is about a young boy from Lahore who ran away from home to escape the horrendous abuse inflicted on him by his own parents. With bruises and cuts covering his body, a school principal found this young boy shaking and crying while he was on his evening walk along the railway station in Okara. Read More
A nameless baby….who today has a PAHCHAAN
A 20-day-old unnamed baby girl was brought to the attention of PAHCHAAN’s Child Protection Unit by a stranger. He found a crying baby while passing by a garbage can and immediately rushed her to the hospital! Now, she has a PAHCHAAN of her own. She has been adopted by an honorable family who welcomed her into their home. Someone had ruthlessly tossed away Allah’s Gift, a beautiful baby girl. The deep cut on the tiny baby’s throat evidenced the worst kind of maltreatment. The baby was urgently admitted to the ICU, and PAHCHAAN covered her medical costs and basic necessities. Read More
Save Mothers, Save the Nation
The stories of 27-year-old Razia and 40-year-old Farah tell us how women’s health can affect families and disrupt even the most well-functioning households. Both Razia and Farah came to us with severe anemia. What concerned us deeply was the fact that Razia was four months pregnant and Farah had been suffering from Arthritis as well. She was so weak that she could not even walk without support. The deteriorated health of these women was evident of prolonged malnutrition. Both of these women were given the much-needed iron supplements and multivitamins. Read More
PAHCHAAN – Rescuing Two Young Girls to Safety
This is the story of two young girls from Rajanpur who narrowly escaped misfortune. It reminds us how vulnerable the children of our society are nowadays. It was during PAHCHAAN’s work in South Punjab, that a community member noticed two girls standing with a strange man on the roadside. He observed them for a few minutes, grew suspicious of the man’s behavior, and called Rescue 1122. Luckily, the rescue team arrived in time. They arrested the man and took the girls into their custody. Read More
From a Playful Afternoon to 48 Hours of Peril
Recently, we received a bone-chilling case from Multan that portrays how severely the safety of young children is compromised in this country, and how desperately they need our unfaltering protection… One afternoon, a 7-year-old girl went to a park with her baby sister to play. After a few minutes, a woman approached the elder sister, and told her to buy some juice while she looks after her baby-sister. How could a little child resist a delicious treat? She took the money and left to get some juice. Read More
From The Street to Her Father’s Home
In early January 23, we received a case of an 8-year-old girl from Gujrat that proves how human beings are often so merciless. It all began when the girl went to see her cousin, who lives across the street. About an hour later, she was found unconscious on the street and taken to the local hospital. Early medical examination revealed that she had strangulation marks on her neck. It’s a sad reality that the urgency of earning a livelihood makes it difficult for parents to ensure the safety of their kids. Read More
Israr Wants To Be A Soldier.
Israr’s father Muhammad Shabbir works 16 hours every day to make his family’s ends meet. Eldest amongst his siblings, Israr is much wiser than children of his age. At such a young age, Israr willingly decided to support his family by working in a toy factory. His mother herself takes remote jobs to help her house run, saw that her son’s dreams were at stake. That is when, listening from a field worker of PAHCHAAN who goes door to door to look for out of school children, she contacted ilm Power.
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PAHCHAAN – Foundation of a Good Life!
16 years, is not a short time, yet if we see it in the terms of providing health, care and education to thousands of hand-to-mouth families all across Pakistan, it seems like the effort has just begun. The identity of these people is not just what their birth certificates say, it is every individual’s physical attributes, personality, qualities, beliefs, creativity, expressions and the list is never-ending. PAHCHAAN’s effort, is not for the present of a child, a mother or a family, it is their whole life. Read More
Aima shall be educated! A dream that your support can turn into reality.
Aima’s mother Naheed is humbled by PAHCHAAN’s support through difficult times of her husband’s declining health and an earning of just Rs. 15,000 per month. Naheed thanks ilm Power Learning Center that runs under PAHCHAAN for being her only solace. She is grateful to PAHCHAAN for not only enrolling her child for free quality education but also bringing out her talents and enhancing her intelligence. To know how Aima made it to ilm Power Learning Center, you can scan our QR Code. Read More
Education Of 2 Daughters, Welfare Of Two Households.
Abdul Razaq, a rickshaw driver and Jonathan, a sweeper by profession stood firm to educate their children regardless of their financial circumstances. All of Razaq’s hopes were attached to Kunzal and Jonathan’s to Jessica’s future. They lived a life in which they could not afford even the basic education of their daughters especially once Covid struck globally. Their only hope for their girls to be independent was through ilm Power. When both of the families were at a crossroad and barely had enough to eat on their plates, our door to door community mobilizer reached out, looking for parents with passion to educate their children regardless of their financial circumstances.Read More
2 Years Old Zainab Got Paralyzed (They Need Us)
Our sixteen years long journey has witnessed several ups and down but unfortunately, nothing has been as intense as Covid-19. The families that used to struggle to make two meals a day relying on their daily wages became jobless. The result of this downfall was disastrous for thousands of families living in underprivileged areas.Read More
Biggest NGO drive of Typhoid, Attock to Bahawalpur
(for 10,000 children in Phase-I)
PAHCHAAN is proudly the first ever NGO in Pakistan to vaccinate children against Typhoid which is very dangerously expanding these days. Moreover, it is an expensive treatment because of extensive drug resistance amongst children and even adults. The typhoid vaccination provides protection against the disease for 3-4 years.
PAHCHAAN aims to vaccinate 10,000 children belonging to deprived communities, especially the ones with special needs for which we require an estimate of Rs. 5 million in the first phase.Read More
I Get 20,000 A Month As A Security Guard…
Allahditta and Mehmooda tried their best to provide for all their children even from his salary as a guard. With one earning hand they dreamt of educating their children and watching them become successful the way every parent aspires.
In their hand-to-mouth life and the house rent to be paid, this family had to take loans from their neighbors and relatives to even eat two proper meals a day.Read More
Sajida’s Family, A Story From Despair To Care.
When 5 years old Sajida got her fingers cut in the toka machine, the unbearable pain made her scream in agony. The parents were devastated at the sight of Sajida’s clothes covered in blood and her fingers on the floor, completely detached from her hand. Her parents could not understand the situation at all as panic surrounded their minds. After a lot of efforts, somehow they slowed the blood flow and brought Sajida to a local hospital in Lahore.Read More
Rehman’s Parents Believe In PAHCHAAN
8 years old Abdul Rehman was electrocuted in the backyard of his house. While his family was in a state of disbelief, Child Protection Unit took charge of Abdul Rehman’s care and proceeded. In our years of work, we had rarely seen so much damage done by an electric shock. The intensity of that electric shock had burnt most of his right side, especially effecting the leg. Our main concern was making sure that this child would live to see another day and walk on his legs properly.Read More
An Alone Mother And Her Challenges…
By the time we started writing this newsletter, we received the case of Iqra, who was at that time hospitalized due to her weak heart and pneumonia at the age of 6 months. Looking at Iqra’s critical state of health and her family’s unspeakable financial circumstances, we tried our best to support this family in every possible way. Filled with hope, when we were about to conclude our newsletter, we received the very sad news of Iqra’s passing away. Such cases reach us on a daily basis and we lose so many beautiful people too. Read More
Shehzad Is Not Alone, PAHCHAAN Stands Next To Him
We at PAHCHAAN have our roots deeply ingrained into the physical and mental healing of not only one person but the whole families and the communities. Out of several cases that are brought to us on daily basis, one is the story of Shehzad. This 12 years old young boy who not only got severe burns from the electric shock but unfortunately may not be able to use his right eye ever again. Read More
Marriyum Clings To Hope
Married to be together through thick and thin, things changed for Rabia and Shafique in February 2020. In the blink of an eye, just like thousands of people all around the world, Covid not only threatened their bread and butter but also led their family to hospital for their first born, barely 3 months old. Marriyum hardly survived with the pain of a broken leg. No doubt, her pain is immense but the agony of her parents must be up to an extent that we cannot fathom. These are the families that are helped through your Zakat. Step forward and heal these families as whole. Read More
Ayesha’s Declining Health; A Family’s Struggle…
Child Protection Unit receives many cases every day. Most of these cases come from families who barely earn enough for one meal a day. In such circumstances, Ayesha was another child that became victim of the circumstances. There are several loop holes making these Read More