Pattan Development Organization (Pattan) was established in 1992 to do relief work in the flood-affected areas of Pakistan. Its core thematic areas are disaster reduction, democracy and governance, women’s empowerment, youth and volunteerism, and arts and culture.

Under its 'Arts and Culture' projects, the work of Pattan has strong components of peacebuilding. Their Lok Natak (Arts and Culture Desk) engages both women and men of diverse backgrounds on social, economic and political issues through the media of street theatre performances, storytelling and folk music. Such performances encompass a wide range of topics, including violence against women, extremism and democracy.