Punjab govt moves to register charity organisations
A Reuters file image
To regulate the collection of charitable funds, the government has established the Punjab Charity Commission (PCC) under the Punjab Charity Act 2018.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, on Saturday, highlighted that the government was introducing departmental reforms to ensure transparency in collection of donations and sadaqat for charity and relief. Following the establishment of the commission, he underlined, it has become mandatory for all charitable organisations and institutions working in the province to get themselves registered with the PCC before August 15 for proper utilisation of charity and donations.
Buzdar said people of Pakistan have an unparalleled passion of charity and helping others. The well-to-do willingly supported their brethren who were financially affected by Covid-19. Establishment of the PCC will help to maintain the ledger and curb misuse or misappropriation of donations.
He also said that the government has launched a web portal (charitycommission.punjab.gov.pk) to facilitate online registration of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), trusts, societies and other charities.
The commission has segregated charitable organisations in three broad categories. A-category charities include organisations operating in the entire province. They will have to pay Rs10,000 registration fee. B-category includes organisations conducting operations within one district (more than one tehsil of the district) and has a registration fee of Rs3,000 and C-category includes charities operating within one tehsil of a district and has a registration fee of Rs1,000.
The information available on the PCC website indicated that all public and private charitable organisations, NGOs, trusts, welfare bodies and societies registered under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961, the Societies Registration Act, 1860, the Companies Act, 2017 and under any other law for the registration of an organisation for charitable purposes have to register with the PCC under the new regulatory regime before the deadline.
The commission also highlighted that the online registration initiative will help in reducing human interventions in the process leading to managerial efficiency and process transparency.
It warned that if any organisation does not get registered by the deadline, it will not be able to carry out its operations in the province and would be proceeded against as per law.
The PCC highlights that no new charities, non-profit organisations (NPOs) or NGOs will be registered with the commission. First, they have to register under the various laws in place. The registration process defined on the website indicates that an applicant has to deposit the registration fee and fill an online form for registration with the commission.
The commission requires a fee deposit challan form, an authorisation letter from the charity head, licence, articles and memorandum of association, the logo of the charity, proof of ownership of property and vehicles, rent deed, payment plan of liabilities, loan documents, financial statement, audit report and copies of utility bills.
The commission has barred submission of application through agents as it highlighted that all information required can be filled by an authorised employee, trustee, executive officer or any other member associated with the organisation. But the member needs to have an authorisation letter for submission of the application. The commission has also uploaded a tutorial video on its portal to facilitate the registration process.
Under the new law, any person who dishonestly or fraudulently tampers with, conceals or destroys any record of the collection of any charitable fund to which the Act applies shall be deemed to have contravened the law.
A person who violates any provision of the Act or the rules or any order, directionor condition imposed under the Act shall be liable to imprisonment for up to six months but not be less than 15 days and fine of not be less than Rs25,000 or more than Rs100,000.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2020.