New policy for NGOs prepared: Chaudhry Nisar

E-Paper | April 26, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said on Thursday that a new policy for the registration of Non-Government Organisations (NGO) has been prepared, which is based on three parts and is meant to promote their welfare activities.

Addressing a press conference in the federal capital city, the interior minister said that NGOs will not be allowed to operate without prior approval and security clearance obtained from the government.

He said that registration of international NGOs will take place online, as would the registration of visas, passports and Computerised National Identity Cards( CNICs).

"Pakistan has an open door policy towards NGOs and will facilitate the organisations working for the welfare of people without any compromise," Nisar said.

"NGOs will have to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government, the tenure of which has been reduced from five years to three years."

The federal interior minister said foreign organisations will not be allowed to fund local NGOs nor collect funds in the country without permission of the Government of Pakistan.

He further said the visas of NGO employees will not be changed and that the interior ministry will be the sole authority responsible for the registration of NGOs.

Nisar added that no country allows activities against its interests and the registration of NGOs will be immediately cancelled if found involved in illegal activities.

He said, "Situation of the country is very sensitive and operation Zarb-i-Azb will continue Till the elimination of terrorism."

The federal interior minister added that several reputable NGOs had been operating without any registration while several others were shut down based on intelligence reports.

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responsible

Oct 01, 2015 06:10pm

More than 2 1/2 passed, still the government is doing press conferences but no work on grounds to take control on these organizations.

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IRRESPONSIBLE

Oct 01, 2015 06:50pm

@responsible try registering a new NGO and you'll see that they've made it absolute hell even if your motives are good. Coupled with the fact that they've hired corrupt officers who want you to fill their pockets it becomes a nightmare.

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think_then_speak

Oct 01, 2015 07:39pm

It would be a good step if govt. also bridles the nefarious work done by the religious extremism sold in the garb of charity work.

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Furqan

Oct 01, 2015 08:40pm

Long overdue step in the very right direction. Keep up the good work.

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mirza

Oct 01, 2015 09:13pm

He is a genius or thats what he thinks so.

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e world

Oct 01, 2015 09:40pm

Ch Nisar is one of the great politicians in our country. He is planning to start electronic online passport,ID cards registration. These steps require insight and aims which one can find in Ch Nisar.However, if one makes the mistakes of going to make a driver's license in Rawalpindi, expect to go to the police office at 530 am( only 60 tickets are issued for whole day rest go home "like me" when office opens at 9:00am) and then wait till 2:00pm. A request please make driver licenses online as well so one don't have to stand in line at 5:30 am.Same goes for HEC where one needs to get in line before 5:30 am.I admire how he honestly admitted that standing in lines for hours is wrong because this is 21 st century not stone age and these clerical staff just waste time.

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Anjum Arshi

Oct 01, 2015 11:17pm

The online registration system is not up yet, in spite of all the trumpeting by the Minister over the last three months. INGOs mostly work in the social sector for the benefit of the poor and the marginalised. So the Minister's bullying will only make life even more miserable for the poor of Pakistan.

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Progressing

Oct 01, 2015 11:38pm

Everything gets prepared,the ground breaking of of all those dams,power plants,the signings ,but we never see it in reality,about the energy situation that was suppose to be fixed and no load shedding in 6 months,its two and a half years later,and its pushed to 2017,yeah ok,maybe my great grand kids will see it.

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Oct 02, 2015 02:10am

The interior minister needs to focus on religious seminaries who are spreading hate and extremism as well as on provision of security to the citizens instead of wasting his time on the NGOs which do not require any funds from the government to serve the less fortunate and the most deserving which have been ignored by the government. Excessive Bureaucratic and government controls on NGOs are unwarranted and shall discourage them

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Aqil Khan

Oct 02, 2015 02:13am

Nisar appears in press confernces again and again for this particular issue and every times it is said that a policy has been formulated for NGOs.Would that ever be implemented? This is no doubt a very good and much awaited development but ,once in place,it needs to be followed in its letter and spirit.

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