It has been revealed that a number of International Non Profit Organizations (INGOs) have been working in Pakistan without mandatory registration with Ministry of Interior. Sources said that INGOs namely Tobacco Free Kids and Vital Strategies are working in Pakistan without mandatory registration especially in ministry of interior.
According to Pakistan law, it is mandatory for any INGO to register in Ministry of Interior after security clearance from the intelligence agencies. No INGOs can operate in Pakistan without security clearance and registration with Ministry of Interior.
The INGOs are bound to apply in MoI with details of their projects and it can operate in the country after the security clearance from law enforcement and intelligence agencies. In a shocking revelation, it has been learnt that two INGOs Tobacco Free Kids and Vital Strategies are operating in Pakistan without mandatory registration with Ministry of Interior.
Sources said that these illegal INGOs are also working with various ministries, government institutions and local NGOs and provide them technical and financial assistance in various projects. As per laws, it is illegal for any government institution or ministry to work with any INGOs which is not registered with the ministry of interior.
In the past various INGOs were found in spying and affairs against the State of Pakistan. Especially an INGO working in the health sector was found guilty in executing a fake health related campaign in Abbottabad and was involved in spying near military establishments.
Also Pakistan was removed from the FATF grey list in October 2022 after significant improvements in the overall anti-money laundering (AML) / counter-terrorist financing (CFT) framework.
After these issues, Ministry of Interior took very concrete steps in registration of INGOs working in Pakistan after security clearance from the intelligence agencies. It was made mandatory for any INGO to register in the Ministry of Interior. Without this mandatory registration, no INGO can execute its activities in Pakistan.
It’s very strange that the government departments and ministries are working directly and indirectly with these two unregistered illegal INGOs i.e Tobacco Free Kids and Vital Strategy, sources added.
