To support the NPOs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Directorate of Social Welfare, Govt of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a local NGO Blue Veins launched an easy to understand toolkit that provides useful step by step information on how to register with KP Charities Commission, obtain NOC from Home and Tribal Affairs Department, and get an MOU with Economic Affairs Division (EAD) for receiving foreign funding.
Directorate of Social Welfare is also facilitating Blue Veins in providing necessary guidance to other NPOs for registration with KP Charities Commission through a Help Desk within the premises of Social Welfare Department in Peshawar. It would be pertinent to mention here that the KP Charities Commission was established under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Charities Act 2019 to meet the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Not for profit Organizations (NPOs) are an important segment of the civil society that are crucial for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in ensuring that no one is left behind. However, new laws, policies and regulations are put in place to meet the international standards of transparency and accountability. NGOs/NPOs have to comply with the new laws, rules, and regulations to remain operative in the province. Small community-based organizations are particularly facing the challenge to operate because of no or little information on compliance with the new laws and regulations.
In 2020, there were 5,931 NGOs operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In an effort to meet the requirements of the FATF, the government de-registered 3,851 NGOs, and asked them to re-register fulfilling the requirements of the latest applicable laws. As there was little information and guidance available on new rules and regulations, it became really difficult for many NGOs/NPOs to re-register themselves. The establishment of Help Desk, and publication of this Toolkit are the steps taken to facilitate the NGOs in re-registration.
Ms Shaheen Quresh, President Blue Veins said “NPOs cannot operate in isolation; engaging with stakeholders is crucial to create space for dialogue and improve the State-NGOs relationship based on mutual trust”.
Download the PDF file HERE
