Sindh’s charities to enlist with new regulatory body

The law, challenged by certain organistations, states entities failing to register will face legal action

KARACHI:

The provincial government, striving to bring welfare organisations under the ambit of Sindh Charity Registration and Regulation Act 2019, has issued a final notice to all charities to enlist with the Sindh Charity Commission (SCC)- a new regulatory body established under the 2019 edict.

The notice has been issued with the proviso that all charity organisations in the province are required to register by September 2021, negligence of which will warrant further action.

Previously, the registration deadline was set to June 10, but considering that several organisations had failed to appear for enlistment, Sindh Social Welfare Department- responsible for supervising the newly formed commission- had to offer a month’s extension.

Read More: Report tabled on regulation of charities

“The registration period has been extended till September 10. All welfare organisations should benefit from this opportunity and get themselves enlisted before expiry of registration date to avoid legal action”, the government warned in an advertisement recently published in print media.

It however appears that various welfare organisations, including Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) had straight out refused to register with the Sindh Charity Commission, citing serious reservations with the law and eventually opposing the new edict in the Sindh High Court.

“We are already registered under relevant laws of the government. There was no need to bring a new law and ask charity organisations for re-registration,” remarked PILER Executive Director Karamat Ali, while commenting on the matter.

The new law states that welfare organisations will no longer be eligible to “collect charitable funds or seek collection of the charitable funds” unless they are registered under the 2019 Act. As for the registered charities, the law implies that SCC will be responsible for registering, regulating and sanctioning fund raising for the organisations. In addition to that, it also promises to ensure that charities and promoters comply with their legal obligations in exercising control and management of the administration of the charitable funds.

To do this, the commission will institute a mechanism including central database for effective monitoring and evaluation. The mechanism will able to hold an enquiry into the affairs of a charity or charitable funds while also conducting special audits of a charity or charitable fund.

According to Social Welfare Department officials, Sindh Charity Commission will also ensure transparency in collection and utilisation of the charities funds. “It is needed for implementing FATF recommendations”, said SCC Director General Ghulam Abbas Detho, while talking to the Express Tribune.

Per Detho, the department has already cancelled registration of many welfare organisations for different reasons. He told that a few hundred charities are left on the record of the Social Welfare Department, out of which many have already registered themselves under the charity law while the rest are hoped to follow suit.

Speaking further, the director general said that the department has also been discouraging registration of new welfare organisations to avoid problems experienced in the past. In his words, they are very careful in facilitating those who want register their fresh NGOs. “It is the reason behind the government enhancing the documentation process and formalities for registering fresh organisations. They will also need a NOC from the Home Department,” he told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2021.