Matters related to NGOs will be overseen by Interior Ministry

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Monday said that from now on all matters related to Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Pakistan will be dealt by the Ministry of Interior.

Speaking to the media outside Parliament here today, he went on to say that all NGOs in Pakistan must act according to the laws of the country, adding that no longer will the cases of NGOs be monitored by the Economic Affairs Division.

The interior minister further said that during the last 10 to 12 days, concerns of the Pakistan government with regards to NGOs operating in the country have been discussed.

He added that there are thousands of NGOs operating in Pakistan while about 40 percent still remain unregistered.

Nisar went on to say that currently no laws exist to regulate NGOs in the country, however, the federal government is working on formulating such policies.

He also said that a span of six months is being provided for registration as well as to work within the mandate that does not go against national and Islamic values. He said registration would be a simple and online process.

The federal minister added that the authorities would not provide visas to organisations before registration and checking of documents.

Save The Children is still shut

Regarding the NGO ‘Save The Children’, the interior minister said there has been no decision to lift the ban on the organisation and their office in Islamabad still remains shut.

He added that those NGOs who have violated rules will be stopped from operating in Pakistan, adding that designated security areas such as FATA and Gilgit-Baltistan will be out of bounds for NGOs.

Nisar went on to say that today is the first time he was speaking about Save The Children and 90 percent of media misrepresented the news regarding the NGO.