Private certification body to publish NGO list

By Waqar Gillani

LAHORE: A private certification body called the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP) is going to publish a directory of non-government and non-profit organisations to help Pakistani philanthropists channel funds to priority welfare projects.

Former finance minister and PCP director Moeen Afzal told Daily Times on Sunday that PCP would issue certificates to NGOs listed with them to guarantee their authenticity. While the NGOs are to apply voluntarily, certification requires them to meet strict criteria, he said adding that the PCP would send teams to authenticate claims.

He said the PCP hoped to certify around a hundred to 150 organisations this year. The process started in June. “Initially, we are covering Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Faisalabad and Peshawar,” said Mr Afzal.

The PCP was established as a non-profit certification agency that evaluates applicants on internal governance, financial management and programme delivery. It promises to bridge the gap between donors and non-profit organisations by publishing a directory of certified organisations.

The directory will be circulated among potential philanthropists (the corporate sector, individuals and government departments) and will be used by the Central Board of Revenue to grant income tax benefits to NGOs. Any NPO that wants to apply has to be registered under either the Trusts Act, 1882, Societies Registration Act, 1860, Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961, Local Government Ordinance, 2001, Religious Endowments Act, 1863 or the Companies Ordinance, 1984 and needs to be at least three years old.

The Lahore Association of Non Government Organisations (LANGOS) will collaborate with PCP to provide a platform for NGOs to meet and discuss common issues and problems.

LANGOS is a group of 20 Lahore-based NGOs that is also setting up a centre with the United Nations Development Programme to help other NGOs in research, documentation, information dissemination, training and organisation of seminars and workshops.

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