A consultative discussion on creating an enabling environment for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) called for establishment of a one-window operation to streamline registration, verification, renewal, bank accounts.
Consultation calls for One-Window operation to support CSOs
PESHAWAR, Jul 25 (APP): A consultative discussion on creating an enabling environment for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) called for establishment of a one-window operation to streamline registration, verification, renewal, bank accounts.
The consultation was jointly organized by Pakistan Development Alliance (PDA), a network of 107 national-level non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Chairperson of the Pakistan Development Alliance (PDA), Zia-ur-Rehman, President Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chapter of CSOs, Yar Muhammad Shaheen, Mian Attiq of the Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning (PILL), Muhammad Ayub of Blue Veins and representatives of various non-profit organizations attended the consultation and shared their views.
Participants held detailed discussion on the challenges faced by CSOs during registration, renewal and day-to-day operations, particularly while implementing humanitarian and development projects in the field.
They described the registration process as cumbersome, saying it requires verification and clearances from multiple government departments and elected local representatives, resulting in lengthy delays.
Participants said the renewal process had also become increasingly burdensome due to additional documentation and verification requirements for the heads of CSOs and other staff.
They claimed that registration applications of more than 300 to 400 CSOs were currently pending because of prolonged processing and procedural complexities.
Javed Ahmad, representing the Special Persons Development Association, informed the participants that around 24 Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had ceased operations because of difficulties in the registration and renewal process. He said only 16 of the province’s 40 OPDs remained operational.
Discussing operational challenges, participants said security remained one of the biggest concerns for organizations working in remote and underserved areas.
They said nearly 20,000 people were employed by CSOs in different capacities and urged the government to facilitate their operations to create more employment opportunities and improve the delivery of services to communities.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairperson of the Pakistan Development Alliance (PDA), Zia-ur-Rehman, said the suggestions and recommendations presented during the consultation would be incorporated into a report to be submitted to the government.
He said similar consultative sessions would be held in five cities across the country before preparing a comprehensive report based on stakeholders’ recommendations.
