Pakistan today announced that 25 international NGOs have been formally allowed to operate in the country in various fields after re-registering themselves.
The decision in this regard was taken during a high-level meeting here chaired by the Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan.
Interestingly, 'Save the Children' charity, banned last year, is not among the list of NGOs allowed to operate.
The Interior ministry had set up a committee to re- register all international NGOs operating in the country.
Khan in his address to the international NGOs Committee had directed to further expedite the process of registration in consultation with all stakeholders.
He said that the new policy is aimed at facilitating NGOs and to regulate their affairs, thus making the entire system more transparent and work-friendly and to build a strong partnership of governmental and non-governmental organisations in all areas of development.
Khan said that the Interior Ministry is ready to assist the provinces in putting in place a similar mechanism for the registration of NGOs in the provinces and thus regulating their affairs.
Quoting a letter from Pakistan Humanitarian Forum wherein the international NGOs representative body appreciated the Interior Ministry for its support and commitment to make the new system a success story, Khan observed that it was encouraging to see the response of the non-governmental bodies towards the efforts aimed at regulating the system.
The NGOs allowed to work include among others Kokyo naki Kodomotachi (KnK) Japan, Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), Operational Centre Brussels, Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind UK, Qatar Charity, Jhpiego Corporation USA, Oxfam Great Britan UK, Helpage International UK and American Refugee Committee International.
