Pakistan

International NGOs to continue functioning in Pakistan for six months: PM

High-level meeting says INGOs required to complete process of fresh registration with government within three months

Abdul Manan June 16, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that all international non-government organisations (INGOs) in the country would be allowed to function for a period of six months within specified areas of operation decided by concerned authorities.

The premier announced the decision while chairing a high-level meeting at the PM House to discuss matter related to INGOs present in the country.

Read: Only Islamabad office of Save the Children to remain closed, says Nisar

Further, the meeting also decided that all INGOs were required to complete the process of fresh registration with the government within three months.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee, headed by Tariq Fatemi, would provide the guidelines including rules, processes and draft legislation for streamlining the work of the INGOs in Pakistan in the future.

Read: Tightening the screw - Govt to draft new laws for NGOs

This committee will also suggest a monitoring and oversight mechanism to ensure compliance with legislation rules in future.

The decision comes three days after Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said a committee constituted by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was working on drafting new laws to set a mechanism for operations of all such organisations.

He added that no non-governmental organisation (NGO) working against the country’s national interest would be allowed to continue working in Pakistan. “We just want to regulate the system. We do not want to shut down NGOs that follow our laws."

Earlier last week, authorities in the federal capital sealed the offices of international non-governmental organisation Save the Children.

Save the Children has previously been accused of involvement with the Central Intelligence Agency and Dr Shakeel Afridi in tracking down the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad.

The decision was taken on the directive of the interior ministry for its alleged involvement in some anti-state activities, said the official of the administration. The notification was issued by the Economic Affairs Division (EAD).

COMMENTS (7)

Jibran | 9 years ago | Reply The right step. Despite the hysteria, it's not the international NGOs, which are causing the problems, but the internal NGOs thriving in every nook and corner of the country with Petro dollars. These are the real agents of Arab states, and have their access right into the military establishment.

cautious | 9 years ago | Reply Yet the HQ of Save the Children in Islamabad remains closed? If Save the Children is similar to most organizations the HQ is where management and IT work, payroll is processed and is the heart of the organization .. closing that down essentially cripples the organization . Nisar should be removed from office. Save the Children should be left alone and Pakistan should apologize for it's childish behavior.

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Muhammad | 9 years ago | Reply @Jameel ur Rehman: It is not due to pressure from USA and UK but the personal interests of Prime Minister and his ministers' sons living in these countries. With this decision, our heads are hanging in shame as sovereign Pakistani Nation. Nawaz Sharief would talk of breaking the begging bowls but since he has come into power, this begging bowl has increased manifolds. We can't afford to lose these anti-state NGOs but on the other hands we are spending billions on useless Metro Bus which can only serve the Pindi people who are living close to Murree Road. Many Pakistanis must have suffered from depression with this decision of allowing anti-state NGOs to continue their operations.

Lmao | 9 years ago | Reply Quick decisive leadership ms fast decision making. So what if some decisions are reversed as fast and decisively. Both instances are examples of fast decision making.

Jameel ur Rehman | 9 years ago | Reply Why bother and ask silly question to Nisar. Thhook ker chatna is the habit of our top politicains/leadeers

Hammad | 9 years ago | Reply International NGOs to continue destabilize Pakistan for six more months: PM Dear so called NGOs, please collect enough information within these 6 months grace period and get registered and continue the same under govt.'s umbrella :')

Bashir | 9 years ago | Reply What does Nisar say about this?

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