- Nisar approves 70 INGOs under new registration policy; Minister directs NADRA to facilitate foreigners with POC
Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday directed to establish a robust International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO) Facilitation Cell in the ministry with the technical support of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
Almost 70 INGOs had been granted approval under the new registration policy framework. Chairing a high-level meeting here, the minister termed the registration a landmark achievement and directed the ministry to expeditiously process the pending applications of the INGOs.
Among others, the meeting was attended by the interior secretary, advocate general, NADRA chairman, chief commissioner, senior police, FIA and interior ministry’s officials. “We will welcome INGOs to operate freely and independently in Pakistan, let me also make it very clear that now there would absolutely be no margin or space for any INGO to misuse its permission,” Nisar said.
“We would not allow anyone to work against our national security interests under the facade of INGO,” he said. On the issue of the Pakistan Origin Card (POC) for the foreigners especially those married to Pakistani nationals, Nisar directed NADRA to start work on provision of new card to the foreigners who had Pakistani spouses to facilitate their residence within the Islamic Republic.
He also imposed a ban on NADRA for renting new property and building for offices, saying this was an avenue of corruption and misappropriation. He also reviewed the policy framework of NADRA to engage the provincial governments in the establishment of NADRA-owned permanent infrastructure for the provision of its services to citizens in each province.
Nisar also approved collaboration between NADRA and the Pakistan Post under which post offices would be improved and NADRA facilities would be provided in the building of them. As a first step under the project, 10 post offices, two each in the urban and rural areas of the four provinces and Azad Jammu Kashmir would be engaged for provision of NADRA services in the initial phase.
After completion of test and evaluation period, the project would be further expanded and 1500 postal offices across the country especially in the far-flung and rural areas would be equipped for the provision of the NADRA facilities.
VISA ISSUANCE: Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control spokesperson strongly contradicted a statement of former interior minister regarding issuance of visas secretly to foreigners and termed it as incorrect and baseless. The ministry challenged the former minister to quote even one instance where unqualified individual had been granted official or diplomatic visa for Pakistan.
The spokesperson reiterated his call that if the former minister had any proof in this regard, he should come up with it publicly. The issuance of visa had nothing to do with Coalition Support Fund (CSP), he said, adding the former minister seemed to be unaware about that the CSF had been ended quite some time ago.
He said that the present government believed in transparent visa regime and had already abolished all mal-practices for unchecked issuance of visas to foreigners or their unaccounted stay and movements in the country. He said the government in an effort to undo irregularities of past regarding issuance of visas and to keep an account of number of foreigners present in the country, took a number of steps which were on record.
Compilation of data of foreigners present in the country, regularisation of visa regime, withdrawal of unlawful powers to embassies regarding issuance of visa and most recently effort to digitize visa system with introduction of online visa for Pakistan were some of the steps taken by the present government into the matter, he added. –OBAID ABBASI
