ISLAMABAD: A final notice has been issued to the local NGOs registered with the capital administration to submit their details within a month to avoid action against them, including the cancellation of their registration.

The NGOs were directed to submit their annual progress, audit reports, sources of funding (foreign and local), details of bank accounts, administrative expenditure, latest address along with telephone numbers and website, officials said.

The notice was issued from the office of the chief commissioner, directorate of projects, industries and labour welfare/registration authority.

The notice stated: “Reference to your registration as voluntary social welfare agencies ordinance 1961, you are liable to comply with the conditions specified in section 7 of the aforesaid ordinance.”

The NGOs were directed to provide the information within one month, the officials said, adding they were also asked to conduct a special audit of their organisations through a credible firm.

“In case of non-compliance, it shall be presumed that you have failed to comply with the provisions of law and your registration shall be cancelled without any further notice and this may be treated as a final notice.”

The officials said there were 1,427 local NGOs registered with capital administration. In March, a team was constituted for the inspection of the NGOs and collect details from them.

In the first phase, the team inspected 150 NGOs and found 112 of them inactive as their offices and contact persons remained untraceable, the officials said. Besides, their annual progress and audit reports were also not submitted to the capital administration.

In response, the capital administration cancelled the registration of the 112 NGOs as they were found inactive and not following the procedures.

An official of the capital administration, when contacted, told Dawn on the condition of anonymity that the final notice was issued to the NGOs after their failure to submit the reports even two months after the end of the fiscal year 2015-16.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2016