Body formed to register, regulate NGOs
ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee has expressed concerns over the existence of fake non-governmental organisations, which are regularly receiving funding from multiple sources.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Social Welfare and Special Education also took notice of 12 different laws under which NGOs are registered, both at federal and provincial levels.
As a result, the committee constituted a five member subcommittee under the chairpersonship of former social welfare minister and MNA Dr. Attiya 
Inayatullah to review all these laws.
The subcommittee was also tasked with coming up with a proposal under which a single law could be formulated for NGOs’ registration throughout the country.
The new law would also suggest a mechanism whereby performance of NGOs could be effectively monitored. The NA committee met here at the Parliament House on Monday with Rubina Saadat Qaim Khani in the chair.
Interestingly, the committee was informed that in serious violation of rules, a stenographer of the National Council of Social Welfare has been found running an NGO. However, the committee could not provide the name of even a single NGO that is receiving funds but not doing any work on ground.
The committee also expressed its reservations about the non-compliance of its chairperson’s orders regarding the postponement of a meeting of the scrutiny committee on distribution of funds to NGOs prior it’s briefing to the NA committee.
On this the committee directed the Social Welfare and Special Education Ministry’s secretary to conduct an inquiry and report back within one week.
Earlier, the ministry officials briefed the committee members on the presence of 12 different laws which were currently being followed for registration of NGOs and the possibility of their conversion into one law that could be more effective in monitoring the performance of this sector.
They said under the present laws which were meant to register and control NGOs, it was difficult to keep checks and balances on their working.
It’s worth mentioning here that registration and monitoring of NGOs have long been an issue in the country and successive governments attempted to streamline their working but remained unsuccessful. The main issue revolves around the funding of NGOs from international donors.
The government wants to channel the funding through the finance ministry, whereas representatives of the civil society believe that direct involvement of government agencies would prove harmful to their smooth running.
Therefore, the issue is still pending and once again a committee has been constituted to look into the possibilities whether a mechanism could be evolved for effective management of NGOs in Pakistan.
Source:: The Dawn News
In a separate article, Federal Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Samina Khalid Ghurki in a written reply said, ‘it is estimated that there are more than 100,000 NGOs working in the country. However, due to fragmented legal and regulatory framework, exact number of NGOs is not known.’
To address this issue, the ministry of late has developed a national database. The new database contains details of 45,000 NGOs which have been registered under different laws. There is more than one law under which an NGO could be registered at federal, provincial and district level governments.
It is worth mentioning here that registration of NGOs and monitoring of their activities had long been an issue in the country. There are around six different laws under which an NGO could be registered. Successive governments have attempted to streamline registration of NGOs in the country but the issue is still alive. Right wing political parties have always criticised the role of NGOs and termed them as representatives of the west and wanted a strict government control on their operations.