Over 1,600 illegal ID cards returned

ISLAMABAD: As many as 1,685 foreign nationals – majority of them Afghan refugees—have so far voluntarily returned their illegally acquired Pakistani identity cards.

According to a breakdown shared by the ministry, out of the total of 1,685 illegal card holders some 1,549 were Afghan nationals, 44 were Bangladeshis and one Indonesian and Indian each.

INGOs, arms licence policy

The ministry on Wednesday also gave approval in principle to some 50 international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) to operate in Pakistan following the completion of their registration process under the recently-introduced policy.



“Cases of 15 more INGOs are under process. INGOs committee of the interior ministry has been looking into the cases and upon clearance they will be allowed to operate,” reads a statement.

According to the website of the interior ministry, a total of 130 INGOs have applied for re-registration under the new policy.

The ministry had announced the new policy for regulation of INGOs on November 1, 2015 by suspending their previous MoUs and asked them to apply afresh within 60 days. The deadline was later extended for a month till December 31.



The minister had also directed the ministry officials to formulate a comprehensive policy for issuance of armed licences for their provision to the judges of the superior courts, media houses, educational institutes, armed forces officials, and members of parliament and provincial assemblies.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2016.