Monitoring NGOs: Civil society groups say govt trying to control their activities

Claim recent ECC-approved policy aims to cut their independence.

PESHAWAR:

Civil society organisations working in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) are concerned over a recent government directive that calls for stricter monitoring of NGOs. They claim the move aims to curtail their independence.

In November last year, the economic coordination committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet approved a policy under which NGOs would be required to seek the permission of the State Bank of Pakistan for opening and operating foreign currency accounts. They would also need official approval for opening offices.

The policy also calls for NGOs to obtain approval before raising funds locally. They will also be required to provide all information regarding their activities to the authorities.

The organisations have further been directed to restrict the number of foreign nationals working for them to one-tenth of the total staff strength and have also been asked to offer their accounts for annual audits along with an independent evaluation of their work every year.

The government will cancel the registration of an NGO in case its activities are considered detrimental to the national interest, sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan or are dubious in nature, or in violation of cultural and religious sentiments of the people or if it is providing false information or no reasonable activity in a year, states the ECC’s policy.

The Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network, Tribal NGOs Consortium (TNC), EVAW alliance and other human rights groups have expressed concern over the government’s policy and claim civil society has been taken aback after hearing it.

These organisations refuse to buy the government explanation that the policy is part of efforts to ensure transparency in the working of NGOs and fear the move aims to restrict them.

They said the policy and any legislation in this regard will be a serious threat to the existence of small and medium organisations as all NGOs in the country do not have equal capacity and resources to manage audits and other related requirements.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Active Citizen Forum and Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network representative Qamar Naseem said all NGOs are already registered by various regulatory bodies and are being regulated under existing laws, adding there is a need to strengthen the existing mechanisms rather than complicate them.

He said civil society strongly feels the government wants to control social organisations through coercive measures which will negatively affect the work of these organisations. Naseem demanded that the policy be scrapped and NGOs should be engaged to explore the need of strengthening existing laws and regulatory framework.

TNC Coordinator Zar Ali Khan alleged that whenever the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz comes to power it tries to control civil society through coercive means, adding the party sees rights-based social organisations as irritants and does not tolerate independent criticism.

He said the new regulations are only being passed to increase bureaucratic hurdles for NGOs. The government is trying to establish its hegemony over the social sector as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 3^rd, 2014.