The government has failed to control the mushroom growth of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), as Ministry of Social Welfare has shelved the draft bill aimed at streamlining their funding from foreign donors and its proper utilisation. According to an estimate, there are more than 0.15 million NGOs operating all across the country in various sectors of health, education, environment and social welfare. These organisations are getting hefty grants from international donors to assist the government in far-flung areas.
Official sources in the Ministry of Social Welfare informed Business Recorder that numerous complaints of massive financial embezzlements have been received, as donors' funding is not being properly utilised.
"We have a monitoring mechanism but it is very weak. Some two years back it was decided to draft a new regulatory law which is unfortunately still in doldrums," the sources added.
It was informed that the government has no vigil criteria to monitor foreign funding to these organisations, which is badly affecting the national exchequer.
Health, education, environment and other ministries have detected serious financial irregularities in different projects that are being jointly run with NGOs.
The sources were of the view that one of the major causes of failing to achieve set goals was unsatisfactory performance of the NGOs.
"They (NGOs) provide fake papers to the government. We have received many reports in which millions of rupees have been swindled," the sources disclosed.
The government has time and again requested the foreign donors including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund not to directly provide funds to these organisations.
Social Welfare ministry has also been requested by other ministries to strengthen further the monitoring and evaluation system of the NGOs to ensure proper and judicious utilisation of the funds.
It was informed that more than half of the non-governmental organisations were being headed either by bureaucrats themselves or by their family members.
"Bureaucracy is a major hurdle in the formulation of new laws to streamline such organisations and keep vigilant eye on their performance," the sources added.
They informed that NGOs are being registered under four laws including The Societies Registration Act, 1860, The Trust Act, 1882, The Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (R&C) Ordinance, 1961 and The Companies Ordinance, 1984.
When this scribe approached Federal Minister for Social Welfare, Zobaida Jalal to comment on the issue, she was of the view that hectic efforts are going on to formulate a new law regarding the matter.
"We are currently working on legal issues of the draft bill and it would be finalised very soon," she said, adding the draft bill will first be submitted to law ministry for its recommendations and would be discussed in various workshops to make it more meaningful and practical.
When asked about pressures from bureaucracy, Zobaida Jalal said that there were no such hurdles in the legislation process. "We have no such pressure and a strict transparent monitoring mechanism would be adopted," she added.
The minister further said that the government will provide enabling environment to civil society organisations but they have to meet certain standards.
When asked how many organisations are currently functioning, she said that over 100,000 NGOs are running at the moment.
The minister said that there are also many defunct organisations, which she added would be encountered after the new regulatory framework.
"We have directed the district authorities to get complete data of such organisations and new directory is being prepared," she disclosed.
Zobaida Jalal went on to say that the NGOs that will not come up to the expectations of the government would be blacklisted and no more financial assistance be provided to them in the future.
There would be a complete communication between international donor agencies and the government, as blacklisted organisations would never be permitted to take any aid from donor agencies, the minister concluded.
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