ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court Thursday sought a comprehensive report from the federal and provincial governments regarding registration, evaluating and monitoring of local and foreign Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operating in the country.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali resumed hearing of the NGOs registration issue and their source of funding.
During the proceedings, law officers of all the four provinces, Secretary Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan Sarwar Khan and Deputy Attorney General Sajid Ilyas Bhatti appeared before the court.
The court was told that there were 47,403 NGOs in Punjab, 6,150 in Sindh, 2,756 in Balochistan, 10,000 in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and 1,427 NGOs in the federal capital.
The DAG said that they have asked the foreign NGOs, operating in the country, to submit information within two months regarding their source of funding. He said that in the light of recommendations and proposals, given by the secretary LJCP, the NGOs have been directed to make transaction of over Rs20,000 through banks, and added some other restrictions were also being imposed on the NGOs.
Ayyaz Swati, Additional Advocate General Balochistan, told the court that they have cancelled the registration of all NGOs operating in the province and directed them to apply afresh under the new code of conduct, the provincial government had formulated.
Justice Jamali observed that they want that these NGOs should be regulated under code of conduct and a proper system.
The secretary LJCP told that the information provided by the four provinces of NGOs is not sufficient to tackle financial and other activities. He said at least one month is required for examining the information provided by the provinces.
The hearing adjourned four two months.