The Stanford Social Innovation Review says Pakistan contributes more than 1 percent of its GDP to charity. On top of that, a study by the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy shows that citizens give more than 2 billion US dollars annually to charity. Our correspondent Danial Khan takes a closer look at the Pakistan's largest charitable organization to learn more about the country's giving nature.

6-year-old Maryam's life could've been worse. She was abandoned as a newborn. But if there was little, if any, consolation. It was that she had been left at the doorstep of this orphanage.

MARYAM ORPHAN AT EDHI HOME IN ISLAMABAD "I go to school, I read the holy Quran, then we say our prayers, and later we have lunch. In the evenings we play, do our home work and then have dinner before going to bed."

Maryam is just one of 50-thousand babies rescued by the Edhi Foundation in Pakistan. The foundation runs a cradle service where parents can leave a newborn baby they don't want to keep.

SHAKEEL AHMAD IN-CHARGE, EDHI HOME IN ISLAMABAD "When Edhi sahib established the foundation, he put the first cradle outside its door, so that people who, for some reason want to get rid of their child should leave it here, instead of killing it."

According to the United Nations, somewhere between 1.2 and 1.5 million children are estimated to be on the streets of Pakistan.

These kids are subjected to a lot of risks and dangers -- that can sometimes prove to be fatal. Hundreds of child abuse cases are reported every year, but the perpetrators get off, scot-free. And experts say, a lot needs to be done to strengthen child protection laws.

JUSTICE ALI NAWAZ CHOHAN CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS "Actually, previously there were scant laws, not enough laws, until we proposed an amendment and changes in the penal code, those changes that the parliament at our behest has brought about, but now we have changes and pornography and child abuse have been covered, but a lot has yet to be done to bring the laws in conformity with the convention of rights of the child."

The Edhi Foundation is working tirelessly to bridge the gap.

DANIAL KHAN ISLAMABAD "Edhi Foundation has set-up 18 homes like this one, all over Pakistan. At least a hundred boys and girls have been accommodated here at the Islamabad EDHI home. Among them, are abandoned and orphan boys and girls, that are mostly mentally and physically challenged."

The foundation -- established in 1951 -- was the brainchild of philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi. Edhi is a household name in Pakistan, who dedicated his whole life to ascetic and humanitarian causes. He passed away in 2016, at the age of 88, but he left behind a lasting legacy.

Today, the Edhi foundation spearheads social welfare service providers, working in Pakistan and across the world -- on a non-commercial, non-political and non-communal basis.

It's fueled by over 10-thousand volunteers across the country. The foundation feeds women and elderly people subjected to torture or neglect by their families, supporting the ailing patients by providing free medication.

It also owns more than 1,800 private ambulance vans stationed in areas across Pakistan. The foundation also provides free technical education to needy people to make them self-sufficient through technical knowledge and skills.

ABDUL SATTAR EDHI FOUNDER, EDHI FOUNDATION "When I was young, I used to look at poverty in Pakistan and feel very sad. I wanted to do something for the country, but I decided not to ask for charity. I wanted the people to realize the importance of charity. I used to stand on roads and beg, convincing them and gradually they learn to give and they are still giving to the foundation."

Danial Khan, CGTN, ISLAMABAD.