KARACHI: Sindh social welfare department on Tuesday announced that there was a ban on the registration of new non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and said that more than half of the registered NGOs were sitting idle for years, according to a report by a private media outlet.
Shamim Mumtaz, the adviser to the chief minister on social welfare stated that the ban had been imposed by the government on the recommendation of the Apex Committee to make necessary arrangement to ensure that all things involving the security of the country were made foolproof before allowing new organisations to begin working.
She further said that after lifting of the ban on the registration of new NGOs, each management would be required to furnish a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the provincial home department, which was not needed in the previous arrangement.
She said the new policy was formulated in the light of the Apex Committee’s guidelines to impede every possibility of terrorism and terror financing.
The new policy would require every NGO to renew its registration on a yearly basis.
The international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) would need a NOC from the social welfare department before beginning work in any district of Sindh with details about the local NGOs partnering with them.
Shamim Mumtaz appealed to citizens that before donating money, they should confirm whether these organisations or institutions were recognised and registered with the government. “Miscreants and outlawed organisations may use these donations for their nefarious designs and people should be extremely careful and vigilant while making donations,” she stated.
