The government is to start negotiations with International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on the legal status of its operations in Pakistan, official sources told Business Recorder. The decision was taken by the Cabinet in its meeting on November 10, 2010.
The Cabinet, sources, said was informed that IFRC, a part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, was founded in 1919 to co-ordinate activities between the national societies to protect vulnerable people. In Pakistan, IFRC is engaged in humanitarian activities among Afghan refugees on the request of Pakistan Red Crescent Society since the late 1970s.
IFRC has also been raising resources and providing technical expertise for disaster management, health and capacity building of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and has supported PRCS in emergency relief, recovery and reconstruction after the 2005 earthquake, extended humanitarian assistance for flood victims of Sindh and Balochistan in 2007 and the earthquake victims of Balochistan in 2008.
Currently, IFRC is operating in Pakistan on the basis of renewable agreements with Pakistan Red Crescent Society. In 2008, the organisation had requested the government for an agreement to legalise its presence in Pakistan. Besides improving the IFRC operational capabilities, the agreement would enable the organisation to negotiate enhanced financial and material assistance with international donors for humanitarian activities in Pakistan.
Since the federation is recognised as having an international legal entity, it is entitled to privileges and immunities granted to international organisations. It was stated that Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka have already concluded such agreements with IFRC.
The Cabinet was further informed that the inputs from stakeholders, including Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Interior, Military Operations Directorate, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Cabinet Division, were obtained to commence negotiations on an agreement on legal status of IFRC in Pakistan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had sought Cabinet's approval to start negotiations on the agreement on legal status of IFRC. The Cabinet, after detailed discussion, approved in principle to initiate negotiations on the agreement.