Interfaith League Against Poverty-PAK (I-LAP-PAK)
Interfaith League Against Poverty-PAK (I-LAP-PAK) is the Development Wing of the National Baptist Church of Pakistan (NBCP). I-LAP-PAK is a nonprofit organization which was established in 2004 and registered under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies Ordinance 1961. The primary objective of the organization is to promote interfaith harmony & peace, reduce religious extremism, encourage equality on the basis of humanity and ensure respect for all religions around the world through advocacy and lobbying at all levels. I-LAP–PAK’s Vision is to “Create a new generation of peace workers, peace defenders, and peace negotiators towards catalyzing positive change in the community for prevention of conflicts and promotion and sustenance of peace in the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural Pakistan”.
I-LAP-PAK Head Office is based at Islamabad. I-LAP-PAK has worked extensively in Districts Mansehra, Balakot, Swabi, Nowshera and Mardan, KP Province; Districts Turbet and Gwader, Balochistan Province; Districts Rahim Yar Khan, Khan Bela, Lahore and Jhang, Punjab Province; Districts Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin, Tharparker and Karachi, Sindh Province.
I-LAP-PAK was certified by the Pakistan Center for Philanthropy (PCP) for its outstanding performance in the areas of Internal Governance, Financial Management and Program Delivery. I-LAP-PAK is a member organization of International Network of Museums for Peace.
I-LAP-PAK has also been actively contributing to Advocacy and Lobbying for the Right to Religious Freedom, Interfaith Harmony, Reducing Religious Extremism, Promotion of Religious Tolerance and raising voice for access to justice. I-LAP-PAK also provides Humanitarian Assistance and sustainable climatic resilient community development projects. The cross-cutting theme of all Programs of I-LAP-PAK focuses on promotion of peace at local, national, and international levels.
Core Thematic Areas:
- Peacebuilding
I-LAP-PAK believes national peace stems from peace at the grassroots. To promote societal harmony, it has:
- Formed community-based peace groups engaging clerics, community leaders, youth, law enforcement, and activists.
- Regularly celebrated national and international days and religious festivals of all faiths.
Initiated interfaith dialogues involving women, youth, scholars, and academia to promote peaceful coexistence.
- Disaster Response
I-LAP-PAK has consistently delivered humanitarian aid to communities affected by natural calamities—earthquakes, floods, droughts—and victims of displacement or religious persecution. Collaborating with government bodies and international partners, I-LAP-PAK ensures aid reaches all, regardless of faith or background.
- Education
The Institute of Emerging Leaders (TiEL) School System
TiEL was established with the vision of producing visionary leaders from within the Christian Community who would lead the community with planned Programs ensuring their dignity, honor and pride by attaining professional education and are placed in high-ranking positions in the mainstream of the country.
TiEL is the first institution of its kind that is dedicatedly playing the much-required role of strengthening academic education and emphasizes professional growth and personality development of students; instilling visionary leadership qualities for addressing the challenges being faced by the Christians in the country.
The Program includes career counseling for helping them select white-collar professions by exposing them to the various superior services both in Public and Private sectors. It provides political awareness to the students and makes them aware of the parameters of good governance, importance of rule of law, Minority Rights, significance of Interfaith Harmony for a peaceful coexistence and most importantly maintaining the balance between rights and obligations for becoming exemplary law-abiding citizens of Pakistan.
Thus, providing Christian youth with prospects to excel and mature into a generation that will live in the society with their heads high and who are the flag bearers for the generations to follow. TiEL addresses the need for academic excellence and leadership among Christians in Pakistan.
Vision: To restore the dignity of the Christian community by promoting professional education and leadership roles in public and private sectors.
Mission: To develop visionary, self-motivated Christian leaders who compete on merit and meet the country’s future challenges.
- Health and Medical Response: Community Sustainable Development Program (CSDP)
CSDP, supported by a team of internationally qualified doctors and community volunteers, provides health services to low-income neighborhoods of Islamabad. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), CSDP offers basic health care and essential life support to underprivileged families.