ICMC has been present in Pakistan since the mid-1980s principally engaged in resettlement of Afghan (and a minority of other) refugees referred by UNHCR. This work continues today, albeit at a slower pace.
Since the terrible earthquake of October 2005 which struck large areas of Northern Pakistan, ICMC has been working alongside Caritas Pakistan, initially providing humanitarian assistance, counselling, legal services and vocational training to affected communities.
Today, with the support of CAFOD, Caritas Germany and Caritas Italy, ICMC is engaged in a two-year programme to reinforce access to social services and protection for the most vulnerable segments of the affected communities in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP). This programme is operated in partnership with local NGOs (Sarhad Rural Support Programme and Strengthening Participatory Organisation) and will build the capacity of rural communities to ensure that key government services are available to female headed households, orphans, persons with serious medical conditions or who are mentally or physically handicapped, isolated elderly persons, and those living in extreme poverty.