Islamabad: International non-profit organizations (INGOs) have been found operating in Pakistan without mandatory registration with the Ministry of Interior.
Sources said that INGOs with tobacco-free children and key strategies are working without mandatory registration in Pakistan, especially with the Ministry of Interior.
According to Pakistani law, any INGO is required to register with the Ministry of Interior after security clearance from intelligence agencies. No INGO can operate in Pakistan without security clearance and registration with the Ministry of Interior.
INGOs must apply to the MoI with details of their projects and can operate in the country after security clearance from law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
In a shocking revelation, it was learned that two INGOs, Child-Free and Critical Strategy, are operating in Pakistan without mandatory registration with the Ministry of Interior.
Sources said that this illegal INGO also works with various ministries, government agencies, and local NGOs and provides technical and financial assistance in various projects. By law, it is illegal for any government agency or ministry to work with INGOs that are not registered with the Ministry of Interior.
In the past, various INGOs were found involved in internal affairs and activities against the state of Pakistan. An INGO working mainly in the health sector was found guilty of running a fake health campaign in Abbottabad and engaging in espionage near military installations.
Pakistan was also removed from the FATF gray list in October 2022 following significant improvements to its anti-money laundering (AML)/counter-terrorist financing (CFT) framework.
Following this issue, the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken specific steps to register INGOs operating in Pakistan after clearing security from intelligence agencies. Registration of any INGO with the Ministry of Home Affairs is mandatory. Without this mandatory registration, no INGO can carry out its work in Pakistan.
According to sources, it is very strange that government departments and ministries are working directly and indirectly with two unregistered illegal INGOs namely Tobacco-Free Children and Main Strategy.
