Punjab Home Department Targets Anonymous Donation Boxes For Regulation

On February 28, 2026, the Punjab Home Department reiterated its commitment to combat the proliferation of anonymous donation boxes, which experts warn pose significant threats to charity regulations and undermine the National Action Plan (NAP) goals. These 'unidentified donation boxes,' often secured with chains and found at busy intersections and commercial areas, are estimated to divert billions of rupees under the guise of charity. Former civil servant Yawar Mehdi described them as 'covert funding channels' that evade legal scrutiny and urged the government to take immediate action to confiscate these boxes and maintain transparent records of the funds collected. He emphasized that the ongoing presence of these boxes obscures the administration's view and undermines efforts to dismantle destabilizing financial networks.