Development: NGOs asked to hire locals, combat unemployment

Administration threatens to shut them down in case of non-compliance.

DASU: All NGOs in Kohistan have been asked to renew their No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) within fifteen days.

District Coordination Officer Nisar Azfar also advised them to prefer local staff for their projects and submit details of total staff hired within the stipulated time.

He said this while chairing a meeting of all NGOs and representatives of Awaze Haq movement of the youth here on Saturday. PML-N’s MPA Abdul Sattar was also present who criticised the NGOs for failing to work towards an end to unemployment in Kohistan

Representatives of the movement, Faizullah and Khan, expressed their concerns over NGOs using the billions received in funds for Kohistan for “nothing but paperwork.” Despite being qualified, they argued, the youth’s services are not being engaged. “They bring their staff from other cities, usurping the rights of locals,” said Faizullah.

DCO Azfar reminded NGO representatives of the decisions finalised at previous meetings wherein it was decided to use local talent. He added that disgruntled youth are threatening to take to the streets against the organisations, which is a bad sign. He stated that the NGOs have been given complete security in the hope of bringing about developmental changes in the region and if this requirement was not met, they would not be allowed to operate.

There are over 38 national and international NGOs working in different sectors in the region including health, education, livelihood, rehabilitation and the environment.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2011.