18
AW
May 2018
GLOBAL
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Taj Mahal Minarets Damaged in Storm
Pakistan one of the most charitable nations in the world W
hen it comes to donating to charity, Pakistan is number one in contributing to more than one percent of its GDP to charity. The contributions push it to the top of the ranks, compared to wealthier countries like the United Kingdom, which donate 1.3 percent GDP to charity and Canada who donate 1.2 percent GDP. Pakistan is the sixth most populated country in the world and poverty is a huge problem, with 45% of workers earning less than $2 per day. However, even though most of Pakistanis are living in poverty, they still manage to donate to charity. According to reports made by the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy, Pakistanis donate around Rs240 billion ($2 billion) annually to charity. The report indicates that 98 percent of people in Pakistan give to charity, whether it‘s through kind donations, or volunteering for needy causes.
A storm in India has damaged two
minarets that are located at different entry gates of the iconic Taj Mahal, which is located in the Northern Indian city of Agra. Indian officials stated that strong winds were blowing atleast 130kmh (80mph) which caused the 12ft (4m) pillars to collapse. The four long minarets that surrounded the main structure remain intact. The 17th Century mausoleum attracts atleast 12,000 visitors a day and has become one of the world’s most famous tourist
attraction, as people worldwide travel to Indian just to visit the mausoleum. One of the minarets, which were located at the royal gate, is where tourists often get their first glimpse of the glorious mausoleum. The other pillar was located by the Southern gate. Authorities have stated that work has begun, in order to restore the damaged structure. India’s officials stated that they have recorded history that states that Mughal ruler Shah Jahan has built the Taj Mahal in memory of his beloved queen, Mumtaj Mahal.
The monument’s complex structure is made up of white marble domes and minarets that are inlaid with semi-precious stones and carvings which are considered the finest examples of Mughal art in India. However, it has suffered damage due to pollution and construction activity in the last few years. The Archaeological Survey of India, the custodian of the country’s monuments, have claimed that the Taj Mahal was at risk of losing its sheen and structure, due to the increased pollution levels in Agra.
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Supporting the poor, plays an integral role in Pakistan’s society safety net, however in order for Pakistan to be more integral, they need to make more effort to institutionalise the individual tendency of giving. By trying to understand why Pakistanis prefer to give to individuals rather than organisations, a research was conducted via household surveys and focus group discussions. The survey measured philanthropy in three different ways, which were, inkind giving, monetary giving and time volunteered. The results found that when accounting for all forms of philanthropy, 67 percent said they give to individuals, while 33 percent said they preferred giving to organisations. According to research, 72% of donations in Pakistan are given during Ramadan, and it has been reported that Karachi is the most generous city when it comes to giving to charity.