Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has directed relevant department to remove hurdles in the way of registration of international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) under the INGOs Registration Policy unveiled by the incumbent government in October 2015.
According to an official document of the Ministry of Interior, 139 INGOs have applied for registration through online registration process so far, of which 66 applications have been approved and allowed to operate and undertake various socio-economic projects in the country.
As per the document, out of the total applicants, approval of 72 INGOs is under process while 63 INGOs have signed memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with the Ministry of Interior. The minister in a meeting said that Pakistan acknowledges the services of vibrant INGOs in the development sector. He asked the relevant department to remove hurdles and ensure transparency in the registration of INGOs.
Former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in October 2015 had announced new INGOs Registration Policy. As per the INGOs Policy, a committee had been constituted for scrutiny of the applications. Following the approval of application by the scrutiny committee, an INGO signed MoU with the Ministry of Interior for a period of up to three years.
The INGOs Policy regulates the registration, working, funding, monitoring and other relevant aspects pertaining to all types of INGOs functioning in Pakistan. It said that the policy has sole jurisdiction regarding all types of INGOs. The INGOs receiving foreign contributions (funds, materials and services) emanating from outside Pakistan or utilizing foreign economic assistance are bound to get themselves registered with the Ministry of Interior. The INGOs shall not raise funds and/or receive donations, locally, unless they are specifically authorized.
Under the policy, the INGOs are bound to declare all foreign funds before the government of Pakistan, along with the terms and conditions of those funds, besides details of all their bank accounts. The INGOs are also bound to maintain their financial accounts as per internationally accepted accounting standards.
It said that all INGOs are bound to submit an annual plan of action, detailing all envisaged projects and the respective budgetary allocations to Economic Affairs Division (EAD) and Ministry of Interior at the time of registration and subsequently on an annual basis. The EAD will share these details with all concerned ones.
The planning and development departments of the provincial governments can also review the activities of INGOs in terms of their terms of reference (TORs) and provide counselling, where deemed appropriate. Under the policy, security clearance shall be obtained by Pakistan Missions abroad before issuing initial visa to foreign nationals intending to work for the INGOs.
Hiring of foreign nationals by the INGOs in their management and/or staff shall be subject to prior clearance of the Ministry of Interior.The maximum duration of visas for non-Pakistani nationals working for the INGOs under the policy is one year, it added.
It said that the foreign employees of the INGOs will seek prior permission of the Ministry of Interior for visiting areas outside their designated areas of activities. The INGOs will not engage in money laundering, terror financing, weapon smuggling, anti-state activities and maintaining links with the proscribed organizations.
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