Punjab to bring law for regulating funding of seminaries, NGOs

LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to promulgate an ordinance to regulate the donations and funding of religious seminaries and NGOs. In this regard, a draft of the proposed Charities Act 2015 has been prepared.
Sources in the provincial government said the Public Prosecution Department and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department had separately prepared the drafts of the proposed legislation, but a comprehensive document would be prepared after reviewing the two.
As per the proposed draft, it will be compulsory for the madaris and NGOs to collect donations and funds only through bank accounts. They will also have to submit the details of the received amount to the provincial government, failing which action would be taken against those not following the prescribed procedure.
Furthermore, a commission will be constituted to maintain their record of funding and donations. According to the available documents, the total number of registered NGOs in Punjab is 31,000 out of which 23,400 are registered with the Industries, Commerce and Investment Department under the Punjab Societies Registration Act 1860. The remaining 7,600 are registered with the Social Welfare Department under the Social Welfare Registration and Control Ordinance 1961.
Moreover 16,320 madaris registered under the Punjab Societies Registration Act 1860 are operating in 36 districts of the province. Out of them, 1,426 are in Lahore, 282 in Sheikhupura, 512 in Kasur, 379 in Okara, 628 in Gujranwala, 515 in Sialkot, 127 in Hafizabad, 237 in Narowal, 546 in Sargodha, 452 in Gujrat, 710 in Faisalabad, 103 in Nankana Sahib, 349 in Jhang, 365 in Toba Tek Singh, 430 in Rawalpindi, 112 in Chiniot, 172 in Jhelum, 361 in Attock, 152 in Chakwal, 610 in Bahawalpur, 196 in Mandi Bahauddin, 833 in Rahim Yar Khan, 774 in Bahawalnagar, 249 in Khushab, 156 in Mianwali, 317 in Bhakkar, 1,170 in Multan, 190 in Rajanpur, 350 in Sahiwal, 524 in Khanewal, 438 in Vehari, 337 in Lodhran, 334 in Pakpattan, 746 in DG Khan, 990 in Muzaffargarh and 230 in Layyah.