PM directs basic changes in proposed laws,regulations for INGOs

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed making some basic changes in the recommendations presented by a high-level inter-ministerial committee aiming at reviewing laws and regulations related to accreditation and operational conditions for international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) working in Pakistan, sources told The News here on Saturday.
Sources said head of the inter-ministerial committee and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi presented recommendations to the prime minister last week focusing on the new legislation and mechanism to monitor activities of INGOs operating in Pakistan.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has personally gone through the recommendations and suggested the committee to make some changes in the clauses related to provision of funds, audit and activities in the strategically important areas,” the sources said.
They said Tariq Fatemi in coordination with other members of the committee is reviewing the recommendations that would be presented again to the prime minister for final approval.
Now the committee would also further strengthen an oversight mechanism not only to ensure compliance with legislation/ rules in future but also avoid complications in implementation of rules. “The government will introduce legislation in the National Assembly on the basis of these recommendations after their final approval by the prime minister,” the sources said. They said the prime minister also appreciated the work of the committee and hoped that its recommendations would greatly help in effectively monitoring the activities of INGOs. According to the recommendations, the Ministry of Interior would register INGOs as previously it was done by the Economic Affairs Division of the Finance Ministry.
It was recommended not to allow any INGO to work in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), Gilgit-Baltistan, and other declared security zones due to growing challenges to the security of the country.
A strict mechanism would be put in place to issue visas to the foreign employees of INGOs and those who would hold visas would have to follow the rules and procedures to avoid cancellation of their stay in Pakistan.
The government would immediately freeze bank accounts and cancel registration of those INGOs that would be involved in activities against the public interest and law and the Constitution. If the government cancels registration of any INGO, its representatives cannot transfer its assets or administrative powers to any other institution.
No INGO would be allowed to work against the national and Islamic values and all of them would be encouraged to adopt their own self-regulatory systems.
An INGO would have to utilize foreign contributions for a specified purpose after obtaining prior permission of the federal government, which would be valid for a specified period and for a specific geographical location within Pakistan.
It is pertinent to mention here that the government has ordered closure of ‘Save the Children’ on June 12 on grounds that the international aid group was working against the country. But later, the government allowed all INGOs to work in Pakistan for a period of six months within specified areas of operations decided by the concerned authorities.
When contacted, head of the inter-ministerial committee and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatimi told The News that the recommendations to monitor INGOs operating in Pakistan have been presented to the prime minister who after a thorough review suggested some changes to put in place a strong and effective mechanism in this respect. “The prime minister was pleased to go through the recommendations that were prepared by the inter-ministerial committee keeping in view all aspects of the issue of monitoring of INGOs in Pakistan,” he said.