In Islamabad on November 12, 2025, Zakat Foundation of America, Pakistan convened a spirited session on the importance of volunteerism and youth engagement, drawing young leaders from across the country for a conversation about service, purpose and responsible leadership.
The session was led by Mark S. Ward, Advisor to the CEO of Zakat Foundation of America (USA), an ex-diplomat and humanitarian leader whose experience as U.S. Mission Director to Pakistan, Syria and Afghanistan and his USAID work directing international disaster response and reconstruction in Pakistan, Libya and Japan brought a global perspective to local action. He urged attendees to treat volunteerism as a moral commitment to humanity, framing service as an essential component of ethical leadership.
Delegations from six universities including Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Bahria University Islamabad, National University of Modern Languages, Iqra University Islamabad, COMSATS University Islamabad and International Islamic University Islamabad joined students from more than ten cities such as Faisalabad, Mardan, Swabi, Quetta, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Kasur, Multan, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi. Participants from Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan shared personal volunteer experiences and reflected on how community work reshaped their views on leadership and empathy.
Country Director Dr. Fazal ur Rehman outlined ZFA’s Youth Empowerment and Development Initiatives that aim to cultivate leadership, compassion and civic responsibility among students. ‘Our vision is to build a generation that leads with integrity and serves with purpose,’ he said, underscoring ZFA’s sustained focus on education, capacity building and volunteer engagement as drivers of youth-led social change.
Nayab Ronaq Abbasi, an alumna of ZFA’s Youth Leadership Initiative and a Teach for Pakistan fellow, offered a personal account of how her volunteer experience with ZFA in 2024 influenced her decision to work on improving learning in government schools. Her story illustrated how volunteerism can open career pathways and deepen commitment to community development.
The Youth Humanitarian Circle Pakistan delegation was commended for its work supporting out-of-school children and for promoting youth participation in humanitarian efforts. The gathering closed with a shared reflection that purpose-driven volunteerism can be a powerful engine for sustainable change, empowering Pakistan’s youth to lead efforts for a more inclusive and equitable future.
