Prime Minister’s (PM) Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi on Wednesday said that the proposed law to regulate ‘Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities)’ will be prepared taking opinions of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders, reports UNB.
The initiative to prepare the proposed law was undertaken in order to bring more transparency and accountability in the operations of the NGOs, he said while exchanging views with the leaders of NGOs at Matsha Bhaban in the city.
The NGO Affairs Bureau under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) arranged the meeting to discuss a draft of the ‘Foreign Donation (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Bill’ with the representatives of different NGOs who mainly receive foreign donations.
Chaired by Principal Secretary to the PM Sheikh Wahid Uzzaman, the meeting was attended, among others, by Executive Director of Ain o Shalish Kendra advocate Sultana Kamal and Coordinator of Nijera Kori Khushi Kabir, and media analyst Muhammad Jahangir.
The NGO leaders supported the government move, but cautioned that the new law should not in any way restrict or discourage foreign donations.
They also agreed with the idea that there should be a modern and pragmatic regulatory framework to monitor the use of foreign donations. “We want to maintain transparency and accountability in our operation so that nobody can raise any question about our activities,” said a leader of an NGO.
Principal Secretary Sheikh Wahid Uzzaman said at present, there are two laws for the NGOs – The Foreign Donation (Regulations) Ordinance 1978, and The Foreign Contributions (Regulations) Ordinance 1982.
He said the government has taken the initiative to prepare the new law mainly to bring dynamism, transparency and accountability in the operations of NGOs who receive foreign donations
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