Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD)

Relocation has never been easy for anyone. Pakistanis have moved to different countries in search of better jobs, therefore Pakistani diaspora is found all over the world. Pakistani expatriates are the third largest community in UAE after KSA and UK. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the countries where Pakistani expats have found lucrative opportunities since its inception. Therefore they have been living in UAE since its inception. These Pakistanis in Dubai have also been members of different Pakistani communities across the UAE. A known organization has been working for Pakistani expats since the 1960s. Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) is a non-profit organization in the UAE. For many Pakistanis, it is the only place to resort to.

The mission of PAD is to promote Pakistani culture and heritage and represent Pakistanis in the UAE. Several activities happen at PAD to ensure that Pakistanis are happy and satisfied with their lives in the UAE. In addition to social activities, PAD also encourages activities related to education, culture, and other social services that are helpful for Pakistani expats and individuals in the UAE. PAD is a support system for many Pakistanis in the UAE.

The organization is doing well for Pakistani expats, especially with their state-of-the-art community facility named Pakistan Centre. The community was established in 2019, serving Pakistanis to do community engagements and be a social welfare organization in the UAE. It facilitates Pakistanis in different ways:

• Healthcare Service

Quality medical services are provided to the underprivileged Pakistanis in the center.

• Educational Programs

If you are new to the UAE, PAD can help you with skill development and language courses by conducting workshops in different sessions.

• Cultural Event

If you want to stay near Pakistani culture and traditions, PAD hosts several traditional music and dance performances throughout the year.

• Sports Facilities

The community encourages individuals to do physical support in community building. It has several sports that Pakistani expats can play to bond with the community members.

At PAD, the members tend to resolve the biggest challenges individuals face in the UAE. Keeping the holistic approach promotes dialogues and collaboration and creates more opportunities for the Pakistanis in the UAE, ensuring social harmony in the UAE. The community has members from all over the UAE, creating diversity and bringing new talents and ambitions from all walks of life. Moreover, the community fosters inclusivity by conducting Eid festivities, Pakistan Day and other events to support inter-community respect and harmony across the UAE.

With its social services, PAD has made great efforts to support Pakistani expats in their educational choices and healthcare facilities and help them in disaster relief in their home country. Some of those initiatives are significant in the UAE community:

• Free Medical Camps

Medical camps are organized throughout the year, providing free check-ups and medicines to the individuals for whom those medical services are unaffordable.

• Education for All

The scholarships and sponsorship programs have allowed talented yet deprived individuals to receive higher and the best education in Pakistan. Pakistani expats adopt orphans from orphanages in Pakistan by sending them money from the UAE.

• Disaster Relief

There have been several natural disasters in Pakistan. PAD has proactively worked to get relief for Pakistanis in natural disasters that occur in Pakistan. However, PAD has raised funds for these disasters and is sending them immediately to help the survivors of the floods and earthquakes.

In historical events, PAD has played a vital role in strengthening ties between Pakistan and the UAE. Several cultural and diplomatic events have boosted relations between both countries. However, business forums and exhibitions have also promoted trade. Further, entrepreneurs from Pakistan have found amazing networking opportunities and have contributed to the UAE’s economic growth.

PAD realizes the importance of women in building a nation. It has launched several women-led projects, encouraging women to participate in different economic activities. Women contribute to the UAE’s economy by sharing wonderful business ideas and joining skill-building workshops to enhance their creative skills. The youth are empowered through various internship and volunteer opportunities provided by different organizations in the UAE, enhancing their choice of becoming community leaders in the future.

Though the organization has a positive effect, when it comes to personal choices and status in the organization, it gets difficult to make an impactful contribution:

• Volunteerism

At the organizational level, there are several challenges to face. Having a personal objective and then aligning it with the community goals could be difficult at times. There could be disagreements amongst the members over initiatives. Some people throw ideas on the table only to impress others. Therefore, community members must ensure sustainable goals rather than focus on individual motives.

• Fund Raising

Initiatives can be expensive, but they are good for Pakistani expats. However, sometimes funding for those projects can be difficult. The community may not have a better outreach for the initiative, and so it is difficult for people to adapt to the new changes in the community. The community leaders come into action, ensuring good partnerships and thinking of innovative solutions that all the other community members can adopt.

• Aspirations of PAD

The future PAD sees it as creating a broader impact on Pakistani expats. The facilities at the Pakistan Centre will be expanded to provide better healthcare and educational programs. However, it also envisions Pakistani expats’ contribution to performing best on the globe, whether it is for sustainable goals or trade.

• Contributions of PAD

The organization has contributed positively to the UAE’s economy as well to the Pakistani expats. It has provided stable opportunities for the community members, allowing women and youth to show their talents and ambitions. However, Pakistani entrepreneurs have also found PAD an exciting opportunity to network at a broader horizon as they meet other Pakistani members occasionally. Most importantly, PAD has also interestingly created harmony in both countries, strengthening their relations on the globe.

Pakistani expats might find it difficult to live in the UAE unless they meet other Pakistanis in their daily lives. Communities like PAD should be more perceptible in the UAE more often, enhancing social harmony and respect for other communities.

Moreover, Pakistani expats also get exposure to people from all walks of life and learn empathy. It also gives them a sense of responsibility as citizens of their home country. The community leaders in PAD ensure that their initiatives are properly utilized by Pakistani expats and people living in Pakistan. Therefore, new community leaders should align their goals with the community goals rather than having a separate way to go. PAD has been providing a great deal of facilities to Pakistanis in the UAE.

Through PAD, Pakistanis remain connected to each other whether they are in Ajman or Dubai. They always support each other through community services facilitated by PAD. However, they also keep up with unity by raising funds for their brothers and sisters in Pakistanis in difficult times. Nevertheless, the Pakistani community in the UAE effectively uses its skills to enhance the UAE’s economic growth by serving and helping people in the home country. However, the unity of Pakistanis is witnessed by many UAE nationals at different forums when Pakistani entrepreneurs collaborate in the UAE.