The Fazaldad Institute (FHRI) is the predecessor organization to the Lord Sarfraz Foundation, and the activities of FHRI and the foundation merged in 2020. It was founded on the principle that education is the most sustainable defence against violence and extremism in Pakistan.
Established in 1999, the Fazaldad Institute’s (FHRI) methodology was geared towards "Changing the Mindset" of society towards moderation, peace and tolerance. It evolved into the most experienced organization in Pakistan on training for human rights and democracy. Its training programs have reached over 75,000 teachers, judges, police officers, bureaucrats, and elected local bodies’ representatives, and 170,000 students have been direct beneficiaries of its programs while indirect beneficiaries run into the millions. In recognition of its work the United Nations Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations approved a Special Consultative Status for the Fazaldad Institute in June 2005, making it one of seven Pakistani NGOs ever to have been granted this status. FHRI has also been certified by Pakistan Center for Philanthropy.
The Institute’s Objectives were to:
- Contribute towards fostering a culture of human rights through mass human rights education.
- Change the mindset of the populace to prevent violence against vulnerable groups taking place in the first place.
- Empower Pakistani women, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, or socioeconomic status. To make them and the public aware of their full rights and potential in all spheres of life, specially social, economic, personal and political. To enable women to participate in the decision making process that affects their lives and that of their families.
- Sensitize civil society on all relevant human rights issues, conventions and norms.
- Sensitize the general public on, and to motivate them to comply with, the Islamic injunctions opposing injustice and oppression of the weak and the doctrines promoting and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups.
- Deliver the above in a way that is readily understandable to the most disadvantaged members of society and to have an impact in the most remote parts of the country.
- Remove inequities and imbalances in all sectors of socio-economic development and to ensure women’s equal access to all development benefits and social services.
- Make participants aware that human right is an integral part of Islam, which is a religion of peace and tolerance.
- Make them understand their rights and responsibilities as members of society.
- Develop values of tolerance, understanding acceptance of differences in opinion.
- Develop problem solving and conflict resolution skills.