Pakistan: 17 Foreign Aid Groups Expelled

Local Editor

Pakistan ordered several international charity and aid organizations to shut down and leave the country within a 60 days period, one of the organizations said Friday. 

ActionAid, a South Africa-based charity that focuses on education, poverty alleviation and human rights, confirmed that Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior asked them to shut down their operations and leave the country.

"The government continues to suppress civic engagement by attacking NGOs. The most recent example is ActionAid, and several other NGOs were de-registered by the government of Pakistan," Adriano Campolina, chief executive of ActionAid International, said in a statement. 

Around 17 international NGOs were shut down and ordered to leave, an officer at the Ministry of Interior told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorized to speak to the media. 

Earlier in December last year, Pakistan closed down 20 international NGOs and ordered them to wrap up their operations, but 17 of the organizations filed appeals with the Interior Ministry for re-consideration of its decision.

The ministry rejected the appeals but said they could re-apply for registration after six months, the Interior Ministry official added.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team