Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday announced a three-part policy for the registration of Non-Government Organisations (NGO), which he said was “meant to promote their welfare activities.”
Addressing a press conference in the federal capital, the interior minister said that NGOs would not be allowed to operate without prior approval and security clearance obtained from the government.
He said that registration of international NGOs would take place online, as would the registration of visas, passports and Computerised National Identity Cards ( CNICs).
“Pakistan has an open door policy towards NGOs and will facilitate the organisations working for the welfare of people without any compromise,” the minister said.
“NGOs will have to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government, the tenure of which has been reduced from five years to three years.”
The federal interior minister said foreign organisations would not be allowed to fund local NGOs nor collect funds in the country without permission of the government of Pakistan.
He further said that the interior ministry would be the sole authority responsible for the registration of NGOs and that the visas of NGO employees would not be changed.
The interior minister added that no country allows activities against its interest and the registration of NGOs will be immediately cancelled if found involved in illegal activities.
“Situation of the country is very sensitive and operation Zarb-i-Azb will continue till the elimination of terrorism,” he said.
The federal interior minister said several reputable NGOs had been operating without any registration while several others were shut down based on intelligence reports.
He went on to say that presently, several foreign NGO offices had been shut down by the federal government, while several have been sent warnings.
