Authorities to conduct security audit of NGOs

Law enforcement agencies will initiate action against those NGOs involved in suspicious activities

LAHORE: The government has initiated a security audit of international and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the country in accordance with the National Action Plan (NAP), reported Express News.

Authorities will take action against those NGOs which are found involved in 'suspicious' activities.

Previous records of the organisations and their activities will also be closely checked during the audit. According to sources, inquiries will focus on collaboration between NGOs operating in Pakistan and their links to other countries.

An investigation will also be carried out regarding personnel who entered the country and left during the last three years.

Earlier this week, The federal government rejected registration applications of 42 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) due to objections raised by the agencies as Pakistan tightens control over inflow of foreign funding after being placed on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list.



These organisations had submitted applications for signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Economic Affairs Division (EAD).

The signing of MoUs entitles NGOs to obtain foreign funding and open bank accounts.

The EAD spokesperson confirmed to The Express Tribune that the government turned down registration applications of these organisations.



“The decision has been taken by a committee strictly following a policy on registration of NGOs,” said Additional EAD Secretary Zulfiqar Haider, who is also the official spokesperson. “It is the collective decision of the committee and no particular department.”

Haider said Pakistan was cognisant of its international commitments, including the ones with the FATF.