The NGO question

International non-governmental organisations (INGO) have been working in Pakistan for almost as long as the state has been in existence. Many of them operate globally and they are recognised and generally respected for the work they do. Every state has a right to regulate the operations of non-governmental entities that it allows to operate within its borders and Pakistan is no exception to that, and thus there is little surprise that after much to and fro, the government has announced that it has developed a policy framework for INGO regulation.



There has been much debate, some of it ill-informed, about the role of the INGOs in Pakistan. There can be no doubt that some of them have been used as vehicles for covert operations by foreign powers, but there is equally no doubt that the health and welfare infrastructure of the country would be considerably reduced in effectiveness without them. The current and preceding governments work hand-in-glove with INGOs in every province, delivering services to those most in need.

Whilst the need for regulation is undeniable, the modus operandi of regulation as proposed is adding a significant layer of bureaucracy and oversight to already overstretched administrations; and from the outset, there have to be questions about local capacities to implement. The INGOs now have 60 days to complete and submit their registrations on the new electronic forms that have been specially created. Once registered, they will sign an MoU with the government for three years. In principle, no problem — in practice, the potential for pitfalls, to say nothing of the loss of valuable services, as well as the potential for alienating foreign donors, who perfectly legitimately provide various sectors with financial support. It is to be hoped that the new regulations will be applied equitably without fear or favour though given the culture of corruption everywhere this might be a faint hope. It is also to be hoped that those INGOs, even those of ‘friendly’ countries but of doubtful motive, will find the same yardstick applied to them. By all means regulate, but take care not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2015.

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