Adoption ARK suspended its pilot program in Pakistan in October and now has officially canceled it due to allegations of fraud by Pakistani officials involved in the declaration of a child's orphan status. There is an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of State into the allegations of fraud by Pakistani officials. The recent events in Pakistan are heartbreaking, and Adoption ARK's thoughts and prayers are with the families and children involved.
Adoption ARK's mission is to Aid and Rescue Kids. While more developed programs provide parents with a safer path, the less developed programs allow Prospective Adoptive Parents to serve a humanitarian mission by aiding children through adoption. The fate of unwanted children in some underdeveloped countries can be horrible. We believe uniting these children with loving families is the reason Adoption ARK exists.
Unfortunately, all adoptions with all agencies and from all countries involve risks. Adoption ARK takes the safety and welfare of the children and adoptive families very seriously. Before starting a new program, Adoption ARK researches the program through the U.S. Department of State (http://adoption.state.gov) to find out the specifics of the program, communicates with the U.S. consulate regarding the adoption process, and thoroughly reviews the country's adoption procedures.
In a pilot adoption program, Prospective Adoptive Parents are always informed that the program is new, with many unknown factors. Adoption ARK asks parents to research the program independently prior to making a decision. Adoption ARK also limits the number of families initially, and these participants provide the feedback that determines whether the program will be continued. Due to the allegations of fraud among Pakistani officials, the Pakistan program was terminated.