The Pakistan Association Dubai has been serving the community since the 60s

Starting from a small office space in Murshid Bazaar in 1963, it transformed into a well-established and vibrant association with premises built on a land in Bur Dubai gifted by the late Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum in 1974.

Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) is a non-profit, volunteer-based welfare, social and cultural organisation of Pakistani expatriates. PAD is a prestigious body of 1.5 million Pakistanis living in the UAE and is registered with the Community Development Authority, Government of Dubai.
Starting from a small office space in Murshid Bazaar in 1963, it transformed into a well-established and vibrant association with premises built on a land in Bur Dubai gifted by the late Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum in 1974.
Pakistan Association Dubai is the spirit and palpitation of many Pakistanis, a reality to their dreams, a stature of hope and a body of pride. Pakistanis in the UAE who have come all over from the deserts of Mehran, the skirting hills of Bolan, the agricultural beauties of Punjab, the cascades of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the heavenly spectacle of Kashmir, are all united under one slogan: "We are Pakistanis - We are One."
Community welfare remains its key objective, serving the community through cultural, social, sports and educational programmes along with various welfare activities. PAD provides help and support to underprivileged people of the society in various forms like providing school fees for needy, health support, paying medical bills and house rents, legal aids, food packages, facilitating prisoners release, etc.
The Association has also been actively involved in relief and rehabilitation projects during natural disasters in Pakistan.
The main community welfare activities are focused in the following areas:
Cultural: PAD celebrates the national days of Pakistan and the UAE with great fervour every year. Stage dramas and literary events are regularly organised throughout the year with grand poetry sessions by famous poets from Pakistan. The arts and photography club organises exhibitions to highlight Pakistani talent in and outside Pakistan.
Sports: PAD organises sport activities, including cricket, football, badminton and volleyball tournaments. Outdoor activities like Desert Fun Drives are an attraction for 4x4 lovers.
Education: PAD provides financial assistance to schoolchildren in the UAE. English language classes are organised for labourers and drivers, and Arabic classes for community members. It further supports "Walk for Education", an initative of Dubai Cares, and hosts Youth Enhancement Workshops to empower them towards self-development.
Health: PAD has established free medical camps for needy patients, health awareness activities at labour camps, MOUs for low-cost lab facilities, eye checks and dental treatments, blood donation camps, Continuous Medical Education (CME) seminars for health professionals, and the launch of a non-profit, self-sustainable multispeciality medical centre.
Social initiatives: PAD provides food packages to needy families during the month of Ramadan, Iftar pack distribution at labour camps, old age home visits and gifts for the elderly.
Environmental campaigns: "Beach cleaning" campaigns in collaboration with Dubai Municipality, and planning road safety campaigns with RTA.
Prisoners release campaign: There are numbers of Pakistani prisoners in jail for minor offences or awaiting air tickets after completion of their sentence. PAD helps pay their fines and provides air tickets to repatriate with the assistance of the Pakistan Consulate.
Relief during natural disasters: PAD with help of the community, in collaboration with Emirates Red Crescent, provided relief to affected people in Pakistan during earthquake of 2005 and disastrous floods of 2010 and 2011. It also supported Red Crescent UAE in its relief efforts in Kosovo and Sri Lanka. A "Qurbani project" and "Winter support programme 2013" supported earthquake victims in Baluchistan.

• Pakistan