| Pakistan Red Crescent Society | |
| Native Name: | ہلالِ احمر پاکستان |
| Native Name Lang: | ur |
| Abbreviation: | PRCS |
| Founder: | Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Governor General of Pakistan[1] |
| Headquarters: | Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Region Served: | Pakistan |
| Coordinates: | 33.6833°N 73.0514°W |
| Fields: | Humanitarianism |
| Language: | Urdu, English |
| Leader Title: | President |
| Leader Name: | Dr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan[2] |
| Leader Title2: | Chairman |
| Leader Name2: | Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari |
| Affiliations: | International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
| Type: | NGO |
| Status: | Active |
| Purpose: | To ease the hardships of the most vulnerable Pakistanis using the power of humanity |
| Volunteers: | 1.8 million |
Pakistan Red Crescent Society (Urdu: ہلالِ احمر پاکستان), is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency medical and relief services in Pakistan. The organization was founded on 20 December 1947 after Pakistan's independence by an order called The Pakistan Red Cross Order, issued by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, as Governor General of Pakistan. He became the founding president of the Society.[3] It was later renamed the Red Crescent Society or the Red Crescent Order. Its national headquarters are in Islamabad.[4]
Pakistan Red Crescent is the largest humanitarian organization in Pakistan and was formed by act of Parliament in 1947. It is working with a mission to become leading humanitarian organization of Pakistan, committed to prevent and alleviate human sufferings by mobilizing the power of humanity through volunteers.
Pakistan Red Crescent Society's headquarters are located in Islamabad, while it has branches in all administrative units of Pakistan. These branches, as well as the 92 district level branches spread across the country, ensures that the coordination of the Society's field operations.
Pakistan Red Crescent Society had about 253,000 volunteers in 2014.[5] It is estimated to have 1.8 million volunteers across Pakistan.[6]
Pakistan Red Crescent is highly regarded in Pakistan by its respective stakeholders and the public and has over the years been well known for saving lives and strengthening recovery in disasters,[7] contributing towards healthy living,[8] and promoting social cohesion in vulnerable communities.[9] It has emerged as the leading humanitarian organization in the country by providing immediate response in national disasters supported by its vast network of staff and volunteers. PRC has undergone significant developments through the support of its Movement Partners over the years, expanding the capacity of the organization to develop its core activities and respond to disasters.
In 2010, after one of the largest floods in Pakistani history, the Red Crescent Society provided much-needed support to native Pakistanis who were without food or water. They also joined forces with the American Red Cross in this effort, and were given $100,000 in aid to combat the devastation of the flood.[10]
In 2014, the Pakistan Red Crescent Society in Sindh, in association with the JDC Welfare Organization, provided medical aid to some 300 mourners with doctors, paramedical staff, and volunteers during a two-day medical camp organized in connection with Youm-e-Ashoor at Numaish Chowrangi, Karachi.[11]