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.