Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
A resolution to show solidarity with victims of the floods and extend gratitude towards contributions from the international community was passed in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs. The meeting was held on Tuesday at Parliament House while Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman was on chair. Senator Naseema Ehsan, Senator Anwar Lal Dean, Senator Muhammad Akram, Senator Liaqat Khan Tarakai, Senator Shaheen Khalid Butt, Senator Manzoor Ahmed, Senator Umar Farooq, Senator Prince Ahmed Omer Ahmedzai and senior officers of the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) along with its attached departments and agencies attended the meeting. Minister EAD, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq was present as well. Representatives of the Ministry of Interior and the Punjab Government were also present.
Issues taken up entailed details of foreign funded INGOs and NGOs working in Pakistan and recommendations on the budgetary proposals of the Ministry related to Public Sector Development Program (PSDP). Deliberating over foreign funded INGOs and NGOs working in Pakistan, the Committee was of the view that all out efforts must be made to ensure that transparency of the process of confidence building between Pakistan and its friends that have stood with it in time of need may be strengthened. The Committee was assured of the EADs commitment towards transparency and it said that in order to ensure this a third party audit of all donations and grants is conducted on a regular basis.
Discussing INGO policy 2013, the Committee was informed that 1220 applications were received out of which 667 were approved and 213 application were regretted. 340 applications are currently being reviewed against the new policy.
