Pakistan
Pakistan is among the most densely populated countries of the world, its people are of various castes, cultures and colours.
New Zoi Ministries - PAUK's most recent partner - works with the poorest and most disadvantaged in Pakistan. It aims to bring relief to bonded and slaves, and "a hope and a future" through education, feeding the hungry, and health assistance. It now operates in 4 provinces, working among different tribes and people groups. Injustice and exploitationThe root cause of much exploitation (child labour, sexual violence, human trafficking etc) is poverty, unemployment and lack of education. Child labour is prohibited by law, but practiced at the will of parents due to poverty to generate extra resources. Sacrificing their rights and their education, thousands of children are sucked in every year to help pay back money their parents have often borrowed out of desperation. "I sent my daughter to school for three months, but we need her help to make ends meet", said a father, 32, a labourer at a brick factory. With the help of his daughter aged 10, and two sons aged 8 and 7, he and his wife make enough bricks to live. "Any less, and we would starve," the father said. Paying debts back "brick by brick"Employers, in this case the brick kiln owners, advance sums of money to the labourers to meet urgent needs. Because wages paid to labourers are so low the loans cannot be paid back even over many years and workers cannot leave the kiln as they are indebted to the owners. These Pakistani modern slaves are trapped in a lifetime of hardship. From buying food to hospital visits, there are many reasons why workers enter into lifelong deals with their employers, their debts increasing rather than going down.
New Zoi MinistriesNew Zoi Ministries was formed by a local husband and wife team in 2013. Having gained degrees in the USA and UK, they felt God's call to return to their homeland to serve Him there. In response to the situatation in Pakistan they, together with their wider team, have:
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