ISLAMABAD: Around two hundred non-government organisations (NGOs) were found non-functional in the capital which have been served notices by the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA), Pakistan Today has learnt.
According to the official data, available with Pakistan Today, compiled by the Industries and Labour Welfare Department, 190 NGOs remained non-functional and inactive in Islamabad and were served notices by ICTA directing all to submit their audit report, progress reports, local and/or foreign sources of funding as well as the details of bank accounts.
“This is an ongoing campaign against the NGOs whether it remains functional with proper rules or not,” Industries and Labour Welfare Department Director Rabia Aurongzeb said. She said that all NGOs working in the capital were required to submit details to the registration authorities under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control Ordinance), 1961.
The official said that total 1,428 NGOs were registered with the ICTA. However, majority remain non-functional. According to the official, this was the first step that NGOs were served notices and in case of non-compliance, their NOC would be cancelled. “ICTA will not allow a single NGOs to work without submitting details related to audit and others,” the official said.
She said that this was first time that the Industries and Labour Welfare Department has started to conduct verification of NGOs. She said that this initiative was taken by former chief commissioner Zulfiqar Haider and this exercise has continued. It is noted that on the order of former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan inspections were started against NGOs and INGOs.
In December last year, the government closed 27 international aid groups which were unauthorised, after the Interior Ministry gave the 27 NGOs 90 days to conclude operations.
