ISLAMABAD, Jan 30 Caretaker Minister for Population Welfare Dr A.J. Khan on Wednesday informed the Senate that there were over 16,800 Imams and Khateebs of mosques among 18,664 people who had been imparted training in the field of family planning and population welfare in the last three years.

In a written reply to a question of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Senator Mohammad Abbas Komaili, the caretaker minister told the upper house that a total of 16,804 Imams and Khateebs, 1,555 female scholars and 305 master trainers had been given training on population and responsible parenthood from 2005-06 to 2007-08.

The minister said 3,179 Imams and Khateebs were given training in 2005-06, 8,289 in 2006-07 and 5,336 in 2007-08. He said the government had so far not appointed or engaged Ulema to assist the programme of family planning and population welfare.

FOREIGN NGOs In a written reply to a question of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) Senator Mohammad Talha Mehmood, Caretaker Minister for Economic Affairs Dr Salman Shah told the Upper House that there were 122 international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) formally operating in Pakistan.

He said 54 of these international NGOs had signed a memorandum of understanding with the government whereas 68 were working under the interim permission given to them to provide help in the earthquake-hit areas only.

The caretaker minister said the main field of activities of these NGOs included education, health, drinking water and sanitation, emergency relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction, livelihood and capacity-building.

He further informed the senators that Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra) supervised the activities of all NGOs working in the earthquake-affected areas whereas respective ministry, division and provincial government supervised the operation of international NGOs in other parts of the country.