ISLAMABAD, Dec 6: Senate on Monday observed that unscrupulous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were siphoning off millions of rupees on the pretext of development and social welfare. Senators from both the treasury and the opposition benches questioned the role of NGOs while discussing the literacy situation in the country.

Participating in the discussion on literacy in the country, Dr Khalid Ranjha of the ruling party said only 25 per cent of the total funds allocated to the NGOs were spent on the projects while the remaining 75 per cent was utilized by the organizations themselves.

He said the NGOs had extensive networking and in some instances, wives of bureaucrats were running these bodies while their husbands influenced the flow of funding for different projects. In some instances, Dr Ranjha said, bureaucrats were themselves working for the NGOs.

Dr Abdullah Riar of the People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) in an emotionally charged speech said "blood sucking NGOs creeping from every corner of the country" had failed to deliver.

Senator Roshan Khursheed Bharucha of the PML said though there were some NGOs which had delivered good results but hundreds of "ghost NGOs" also existed. Senator Raza Muhammad Raza of Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party questioned the government's policy of entrusting the task of education to the NGO sector.

Questioning the government's policy of giving education projects to various segments of the society, including the NGOs, Senator Prof Khursheed Ahmed of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal said the government should not outsource its responsibilities.