LAHORE: Punjab home department has sent a reminder to the IGP over Punjab Police Executive Board’s (PPEB) approval to impose fee for verification of office-bearers of NGOs, societies, associations and other organisations by Special Branch.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, on a summary initiated by the home department, had sought an explanation from the IGP about PPEB move to impose verification fee for NGOs, which is actually a mandate of the provincial government.

The home department, in the latest reminder, stated that the Punjab inspector general of police was asked to explain the PPEB move on April 23 and April 29, respectively, but no response has so far been received from his office.

The PPEB had approved Rs10,000 fee to be charged by Special Branch for verification of NGOs/INGOs, societies, foundations, associations, organisations, Churches, ministries, press clubs, trust deeds and office-bearers of NGOs/ INGOs.

Sources close to the IGP told Dawn that the PPEB had only moved a proposal which was never implemented.

They said the IGP had never initiated any summary for the imposition of fee. “The Special Branch is not charging anything for verification from any NGO,” a source said and added that this would be the police department’s response to the chief minister.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2024