INGOs conditionally allowed to operate

Organisations to work on ‘corona relief’; no NOC will be required in emergency situation

ISLAMABAD: In the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the Ministry of Interior on Friday accepted the international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) assistance offer and gave them conditional approval for working on “corona relief”.

According to sources, the INGOs will abide by their action plan and targeted area (of development). The government has made it mandatory for the organisations to submit four sets of documents on the details of their work in the fight against COVID-19, which has taken over a thousand victims in the country.

Sources added that no no-objection certificate (NOC) will be required for the INGOs in emergency situations.

All organisations will work with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and PDMA, the top bodies spearheading the government’s relief effort and countermeasures against the virus.

Sources said that only those organisations, who have signed the agreement with the Government of Pakistan, will be allowed to submit their action plans. The interior ministry has issued the names of 70 such organisations, they added.

Under the guidelines, the project completion report will have to be submitted in 15 days after the approval from departments concerned.

Moreover, only those plans of action will be accepted that fall under the eight categories as defined under the government guidelines. It has been highlighted that no new category will be added to the list.

It is pertinent to mention that exemption from the NOC will only be allowed for corona relief work that even for six months. Other details will be announced through the website of the interior ministry.

Meanwhile, the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) has exempted the local non-government organisations (NGOs) from signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the EAD in efforts to fight against COVID-19.

“The EAD directed the state that in pursuance of the power conferred under clause-11 of policy for Regulation of Organisations Receiving Foreign Contributions 2013, the Government of Pakistan is pleased to exempt local NGOs, has exhibited on the website of EAD, from signing of MOU with the EAD to utilise foreign economic assistance for a period not exceeding six months with immediate effect,” said a statement issued by the division on Thursday.

The exemption will be applicable only to those NGOs who have applied to the EAD for permission/signing of the MoU.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)