Some NGOs involved in dubious activities: Shah Farman

Minister says no organisation will be allowed to function without clearance

PESHAWAR: Minister for Public Health Engineering Shah Farman said some NGOs are involved in dubious activities and the government has tightened the noose around them.

Speaking at the K-P Assembly session on Friday, Farman said no welfare organisation will be allowed to function without official clearance. He was supported by Adviser to Chief Minister for Social Welfare Dr Mehr Taj Roghani. She said around 4,000 local NGOs exist in the province. She said NGO registration was stopped for a year only. “Registration has now commenced,” she said. “Around 250 organisations have been registered.”

She maintained restrictions on NGOs are placed by the federal government which cannot be helped.



Proceedings resumed with Qaumi Watan Party’s Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli in chair. The issue of NGOs was brought up by opposition members who flayed the government for delays in relief efforts in flood-affected areas. Awami National Party lawmaker Jaffer Shah questioned the ban on Save the Children. “It is banned in K-P while it functions freely in Punjab,” Tahirkheli said.

The issue was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Welfare. Tahirkheli said the committee should have a representative of every party and directed it to resolve the problem within a month.

Power to the people

PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai said there is a shortage of transformers in his constituency PK-2, Peshawar and prolonged power outages have made matters worse. He said even though Rs8 million had been released two years ago, so far only two transformers have been provided. Meanwhile, PTI MPA Fazal Ilahi also joined Yousafzai in criticising the supply company.

Walkout

A PTI MPA staged a walkout over the alleged illegal appointments and irregularities committed by Swat University vice chancellor. The protest ended only after Minister for Information Mushtaq Ghani assured him of taking the issue up with the governor. Ghani said the laws of K-P do not extend to Provincially Administered Tribal Areas. Ghani added a summary for his removal was forwarded to the governor whom he will also meet to discuss the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2015.