QUETTA: The Balochistan government has cancelled the registration of over 800 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) after they failed to apply for renewal in the given time.

Official sources said on Saturday that under the National Action Plan, it was compulsory for the NGOs working in various sectors of the province to apply for renewal of registration.

They said that the department concerned had published advertisements in all local and national newspapers, asking the NGOs to apply for renewal of their registration.

“Out of the total 1,204 NGOs, only 403 sent applications and were granted renewal certificates,” sources said, adding that registration of 801 organisations had been cancelled.

However, they added, 183 new NGOs had been registered and now the total number of registered organisations had reached 586 in Balochistan.

A senior official of the small industries department said that registration of the 801 NGOs could not be restored but the NGOs could apply for fresh registration with the same name or with a new name under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies Ordinance 1961.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2018