PESHAWAR, Nov 18: The NWFP Governor, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, has said that the government would extend allout support and assistance to the NGOs if they proved their worth.
He said that the NGOs would have to work relentlessly for the welfare and socio-economic development of the people of the backward and rural areas.
He was talking to a delegation of Sarhad NGOs Ittehad, led by its coordinator Mrs Meraj Humayun Khan, at Governor’s House here on Saturday.
The governor noted with concern that most of the NGOs were indulging in malpractices and were striving to make money. This irresponsible attitude of certain organizations has brought a bad name to the entire community of the NGOs.
He said that it was astonishing that whenever the government took any action against such corrupt and irresponsible NGO, their fellow organizations come to their rescue.
The governor, in this connection, referred to what had happened in Takht Bhai, Karak and Swabi recently. He urged the Sarhad NGOs Ittehad to identify such organizations, which were involved in corrupt practices in the garb of social welfare activities.
He assured the delegation that the government would never lag behind in cooperating with the NGOs of good standing and reputation. The governor hoped that the SNI would keep its fold away from the black sheep.
The governor laid stress on avoiding unnecessary and lavishly expenditures, urging that the funds should be utilized to provide maximum benefits to the targeted population or community within the minimum resources.
He pointed out that in certain areas the NGOs’ expenditures had been beyond the limit and estimates. “If we work out the per capita expenditure of such projects, it would be found many times higher than the public sector expenditures,” he remarked.
The governor said that such instances were noticed in the education sector development project, where the ratio of expenditures was one and ten.
The governor laid emphasis on the distribution of fields and areas among various NGOs to avoid duplication. “Haphazard work, without any planning never brings positive results,” he argued.
Pointing towards the mushroom growth of the NGOs, the governor said that there must be a limit to the fields and areas. If the NGOs limited their jurisdictions as well as fields of social services, the government would be in a better position to integrate the working of NGOs with that of the government departments concerned.
Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah said that the government wished to take all along with but certain black sheep had slandered this noble and selfless public service.
He urged the SNI to identify such organizations, individuals and cooperate with the government in purging the society of such vested interests.
The governor said while investigating on the public complaints against NGOs the entire staff should be interrogated, as the corrupt practices were accomplished always by more than one individual. “Such corruption and irregularity make cause for disrupting the entire firm and organization,” he added.
He said that such selfish elements must be watched and monitored.
Earlier, leader of the delegation thanked the governor for his keen interest in removing the grievances and redressing the problems of NGOs in the province. She also outlined the aims and objectives of Sarhad NGOs Ittehad.
Secretary Social Welfare Department, commissioner for Afghan Refugees and other high-ranking officials were also present on the occasion.—APP
