The Citizens Foundation (TCF) is a Pakistan-based global education nonprofit organization with offices in Pakistan, Australia, Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States. ^{1  2} TCF raises funds to build and expand schools across rural and impoverished areas in Pakistan. ³

One of TCF’s largest international funders and partners is the Open Society Foundations (OSF), founded by billionaire philanthropist George Soros. ^{4  5  6}

TCF had previously received contributions from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which helped fund the construction of 19 TCF-managed government schools in Sindh, Pakistan in 2019. USAID was shut down in 2025. ^{7 8}

Activities

According to its website, The Citizens Foundation (TCF) works to expand schools within Pakistan, specifically in rural and impoverished areas. The group has built over 2,200 schools across Pakistan that serve over 320,000 students. ^{9  3}

TCF also operates an Education Program, a textbook and curriculum development program that trains new teachers and principals while providing professional development for existing teachers. ¹⁰

TCF offers a series of internships, summer camps, and other youth programming to its students, staff, and alumni. ¹⁰ The group also organizes community service projects including an adult literacy program, a clean water initiative, and vocational training for students, Pakistani citizens, and graduates of TCF schools. ¹⁰

In 2019, the Government of Sindh partnered with TCF to operate a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Sindh Basic Education Programme. The partnership designated the management of 19 newly constructed government school units in the districts of Dadu and Qamber-Shahdadkot in Sindh to TCF. ⁷ As of 2025, USAID was shut down. ⁸

In 2011, members of TCF took part at the annual Clinton Global Initiative conference. ⁷

TCF also has an American chapter to advocate increased American funding for TCF schools in Pakistan. As of 2026, the American chapter claims to have raised funds to support over 249 TCF-supported schools for over 65,000 local students. ³

Leadership

Zia Akhter Abbas is the president and CEO of The Citizens Foundation (TCF). Abbas also served as a board member for the Global Schools Forum. Prior to joining TCF, Mr. Abbas worked for Citi and Standard Chartered and served as a director for Pakistani-based 1-Link. ¹¹

Ahsan M. Saleem is a TCF co-founder and board chairman of the group. He is also the group chief executive officer of Crescent Steel and Allied Products Ltd., a trustee of COMMECS Education Trust, and has previously sat as board chairman of the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture and as a member of the first Board of Habib University. ¹¹

Adnan Asdar Ali is a TCF co-founder and chief executive of Multinet Pakistan and AAA Partnership. Ali serves on the boards of The Indus Hospital, The Hunar Foundation, the Karachi Relief Trust, the Progressive Education Network, and Sabaq. ¹¹

Mushtaq K. Chhapra is a TCF co-founder and is the chairman of the executive committee at the Patients’ Aid Foundation. He also serves on the boards of The Kidney Centre and the Institute of Business Administration. ¹¹

Finances

According to its 2025 Annual Report, the Citizens Foundation received over 16.85 billion Pakistan rupees, which converts to nearly $60 million in United States Dollars (USD). In 2025, TCF reported 15.24 billion rupees (approximately $54 million USD) in total expenses and 39.62 billion rupees (approximately $142 million USD) in total assets. ¹²

TCF has received funding and support from Open Society Foundations (OSF), which was founded by billionaire philanthropist George Soros.  ^{4  5  6}

1. “Home.” The Citizens Foundation. Accessed January 26, 2026. https://www.tcf.org.pk/
2. “Annual Report 2025, Page 106.” The Citizens Foundation. Accessed January 26, 2026. https://view.publitas.com/the-citizens-foundation/tcf-annual-report-2025/page/106
3. “Our Schools.” The Citizens Foundation. Accessed January 26, 2026. https://www.tcf.org.pk/our-schools/
4. “Critical Thinking and Open Society in Pakistan.” Comparative and International Education Society (CIES). Accessed January 26, 2026. https://convention2.allacademic.com/one/cies/cies15/online_program_direct_link/view_paper/991395/
5. “Education in Pakistan: What Works & Why.” Open Society Foundations. 2007. Accessed January 26, 2026. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/uploads/8da154c6-bca2-41cf-aeb8-7757fb9ad673/pakistan_20070918.pdf
6. “Open Society in Pakistan.” Open Society Foundations. March 2021. Accessed January 26, 2026. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/uploads/ba8b51a8-eb2c-40a7-9626-c5b3e8ebdd9c/open-society-in-pakistan-fact-sheet-en-20210325.pdf
7. “Our Journey.” The Citizens Fund. Accessed January 26, 2026. https://www.tcf.org.pk/about-us/our-journey/
8. Tanis, Fatma and Leila Fadel. “USAID officially shuts down and merges remaining operations with State Department.” NPR, July 1, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/07/01/nx-s1-5451372/usaid-officially-shuts-down-and-merges-remaining-operations-with-state-department
9. “Annual Report 2025, Page 2.” The Citizens Foundation. Accessed January 26, 2026. https://view.publitas.com/the-citizens-foundation/tcf-annual-report-2025/page/2
10. “Education Programme.” The Citizens Foundation. Accessed January 26, 2026. https://www.tcf.org.pk/education-programme/
11. “Our Directors.” The Citizens Fund. Accessed January 26, 2026. https://www.tcf.org.pk/about-us/our-directors/
12. “Annual Report 2025, Page 77.” The Citizens Foundation. Accessed January 26, 2026. https://view.publitas.com/the-citizens-foundation/tcf-annual-report-2025/page/77