involved in anti-Pakistan activities.
Although the government now claims that it is considering evolving a mechanism for the NGOs, the fact remains that in late 2013 even a notification was issued by the government warning that if foreign-funded NGOs are desirous of utilising within Pakistan their foreign economic assistance including money, services and goods that emanate from outside Pakistan, they will have to follow the new set of rules notified by the EAD.
The notification added that no unregistered organisation, receiving foreign funding, would be allowed to operate. According to the policy notification issued following a decision taken by the ECC to regulate these NGOs, every organisation would be bound to declare to the EAD all its foreign contributions, along with the terms and conditions of those contributions, as well as details of all bank accounts maintained by them.
As per the approved policy, the government had decided that all foreign-funded NGOs would maintain their accounts under internationally recognised accounting standards and would get these accounts audited on an annual basis by a registered chartered accountancy firm. It was added that these NGOs would provide to the government (EAD) a copy of the audited annual statements along with a certificate from auditors to the effect that the foreign contributions have been utilised for the objectives of the organisations.
It was also decided that these organisations would also provide to the government and concerned provincial/local governments on annual basis a report on their activities. The planning and development departments of the provincial governments were supposed to review the activities of these organisations in the context of their development framework and priorities.
Within a period of six months, the government in 2013 had intended to complete the registration process for all such NGOs but it could not be done. It was pledged that only those NGOs would be cleared, which would sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the EAD. The MoU would include, amongst other things, the work and geographical area in which the NGO would operate.
To regulate the utilisation of foreign contributions and for matters connected with their work, the draft Foreign Contribution Act, 2014 law was prepared but was never finalised and enacted.