The Punjab Home Department has issued a public warning urging citizens not to donate zakat, charity, or any financial assistance to banned or unregistered organisations, saying such support is a punishable crime under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. Officials stressed that providing funds to groups involved in terrorism or anti-state activities could lead to strict legal action.
According to a spokesperson, all charitable organisations operating in Punjab must be registered with the Punjab Charity Commission. Citizens have been advised to verify organisations before donating by scanning the QR code provided on their registration certificates to ensure that their contributions reach deserving people rather than illegal networks.
The department also released a detailed list of banned organisations, which includes groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and several other militant, sectarian, and separatist groups, along with unregistered trusts and welfare organisations suspected of links to illegal activities.
Authorities said the full list is available on the official websites of the Home Department and the National Counter Terrorism Authority. Citizens have also been encouraged to report any suspicious fundraising activities, fraud, or organisations involved in terrorism to the department through helplines and complaint channels.
The spokesperson emphasised that public cooperation is essential to prevent financial support from reaching banned networks and to ensure that charity is used only for legitimate humanitarian purposes.
