PESHAWAR: Opposing the enforced policy for regulation of organisations receiving funding from foreign donors, representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs) at a dialogue have announced that they would resist implementation of the new policy by the government.

They said that the proposed Regulation of Foreign Contribution Act 2014 was in contradiction to the promises made to the public and civil society during the election campaign and it would create hurdles to the CSOs to carry out development and awareness projects in the country.

The dialogue session on `the proposed Regulation of Foreign Contribution Act 2014` was jointlyorganised by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network and Tribal NGOs Consortium (TNC) in collaboration with Blue Veins and ICNL at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday.

The main speakers on the occasion included Sustainable Participatory Organisation (SPO) regional head Arshad Haroon, Blue Veins chief Qamar Naseem, woman social activist Rakhshanda Naz, TNC representative Zar Ali Khan, Awami National Party MPA Sardar Hussain Babak, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid provincial president Intikhab Chamkani, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl leader Maulana Abdul Shakoor, PML-N women wing leader Shaheen Habibullah and Aurat Foundation director Shabeena Ayaz.

`We have expressed concern over the recent enforcement of policy for regulating the organisations receiving funding and the proposed Regulation of Foreign Contributions Act 2014,` said Mr Haroon at the dialogue session.

He said that the government`s move would not only deterioratethe socio-economic miseries of the vulnerable population, but would significantly shrink space for prodemocratic institutions in Pakistan.

He said that under the new policy the government would grant work permit to expatriate employees and they would be allowed to open and maintain offices with prior approval under the enforced policy. He said the organisations would be allowed to raise funds locally after getting prior approval from the government. The NGOs will be required to provide complete information about their activities.

The organisations will employ foreign nationals against not more than 10 per cent of the total staff positions. The NGOs shall offer accounts for annual audit and third party evaluation of its work, he said.

He elaborated that Under the policy the government would cancel registration of an NGO in case its activities were considered detrimental to the national interest., sovereignty and integrity ofPakistan or dubious in nature, or in violation of cultural and religious sentiments of people, or for providing false information or showing no reasonable activity in a year.

Qamar Naseem said that the economic coordination committee of the cabinet on Nov 21, 2013 had approved the policy, by stating that it would ensure transparent utilisation of funds and streamline activities of the NGOs. Referring to the policy, he said that the CSOs were required to maintain local accounts for the execution of activities while for opening and operating foreign currency accounts they shall seek permission of the State Bank.

The speakers agreed on transparency and emphasised the need for meaningful engagement between relevant government departments and civil society representatives. They demanded that the policy should be scrapped forthwith and the civil society be engaged to explore the need and possibility of strengthening the existing laws.