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

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).