About

Saraiki Waseb Development Organization (SWADO) is a project of independent volunteers, students, teachers, lawyers, journalists, farmers, and activists committed to literacy, development and social reforms in the Saraiki region of Pakistan.

Email: pakistanteam@gmail.com

Logo

There are three colours in the SWADO logo denoting three key features of the region:

1. Blue colour represents water, highlighting the fact that the Indus river has an integral relationship with the Waseb and the Saraiki people. The colour also denotes the peaceful and reconciliatory nature of the Saraiki people.

2. Yellow colour represents soil including desert which is a key feature of the Waseb. The colour also denotes the fact that the area is rich in mineral resources (e.g., gas, oil, metals) and also in solar energy.

3. Green colour represents agriculture which is the mainstay of the Waseb’s economy. The colour also represents the affiliation of the people of this region with the Sufi (mystic) tradition of Islam.

(designed by Abdul Nishapuri)

Saraiki language and region

For those with no knowledge about this language, Saraiki is one of the most widely spoken language in Pakistan and the first language of about 20 million people in the subcontinent. It has a very rich culture and is the representative language of the Indus Valley Civilization.

According to official statistics (published by the CIA Factbook on Pakistan 2010) the following is the ethnic composition of Pakistan: Punjabi 44.68%, Pashtun (Pathan) 15.42%, Sindhi 14.1%, Sariaki 8.38%, Muhajirs 7.57%, Balochi 3.57%, other 6.28%. There are however certain important definitional issues with the current census (e.g., the way Saraiki is treated as a part or dialect of Punjabi).

The main Saraiki speaking areas in the Punjab province are Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and some parts of Sargodha division. Saraiki is also spoken widely in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan. It has many sweet dialects and is considered as the language of love.

A significant number of Saraikis also reside in India, with most concentrated in the state of Punjab, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Saraikis maintain that they have a separate language and culture, but their language is often viewed as a dialect of Sindhi or Punjabi. While the majority of Saraikis follow Islam, a few also follow Hinduism and Sikhism.

Mission of SWADO
By articulating and actively promoting the interests and rights of citizens at all socio-economic levels creating an enabling environment for equal rights and access to equal opportunities.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

The SWADO is working towards building human development and peaceful society, where rights of all members of the Saraiki society are respected.

The organization aims to put its efforts to make Saraiki region a discrimination and exploitation free area and developed human society. The organization strives to gear its programs and energies towards this goal.

• To raise awareness on the principles of fundamental freedoms, non-discrimination, and international human rights Instruments.
• To work for communal harmony at all levels by citing and promoting indigenous models of peaceful co-existence rooted in our history and culture
• To proactively work for the promotion of literacy and work for the recognition of Education as a Right
• To work for women empowerment

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

I. To foster and support activities for integrated and self-reliant and long term development in Waseb to benefit the disadvantaged (women, children, indigenous, minorities, laborers etc) in particular and the whole society in general.

II. To support and strengthen voluntary organizations, working through a participatory process of development to resound the needs of their communities. So that they can live up to the universally accepted standards of human rights.

III. To build linkage among voluntary organizations and community groups in the spirit of equal partnership and thus become an umbrella and channel organization for such groups.

IV. To generate support for development activities at the international, national, regional and local levels.

V. To supports grass roots organizations with a capability for devising, implementing and overseeing developmental projects and programs.

VI. To undertake, facilitate and encourage research and documentation for promoting effective dissemination of relevant information / data to the aforementioned bodies.

VII. To provide and conduct various types of training workshop, educational and other awareness programs appropriate to the needs of grass root organizations and NGOs.

Thematic Area

Advocacy, Agriculture, Children, Communication & Media, Culture, Development, Disaster Management, Drug Abuse, Ecology, Education, Environment, Equality and Equal Opportunity, Ethnic Harmony, Governance, Health, Human Rights, Law, Poverty Alleviation, Religious Harmony,  Research, Rural Development, Women, Youth

Demographic Focus

Saraiki region of Pakistan

Operational Areas

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: D.I. Khan,
Punjab: Multan, Bahawalpur, D.G.Khan
Sindh: Kashmore, Jacobabad, Ghotki, Shikarpur
Major Projects

1. Theme: Drought
Project Area: Cholistan

2. Theme: Literacy
Project Area: D.G. Khan

3. Theme: Diversity
Project Area: Multan

Publications

in progress

Research Projects

1. Poverty analysis
Theme: Survival Strategies of Poor Households to Cope Pov

Future Plans

tbc

Staff
Paid Staff: Male-?, Female-?, (Total-?)
Volunteers: Male- , Female- , (Total-)

Composition jof Board

Composition Board Male Female Total
Donors
Professional

Contact us
pakistanteam@gmail.com