PRLog (Press Release) –
Feb 13, 2008 – (Islamabad) – Accurate empirical data related to the social development sector is a prerequisite for strong decision making at the government level. This was stated by the Minister of Science, Technology and Education, Dr. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha while addressing an orientation session arranged by Pakistan Center for Philanthropy (PCP) for the International donors at the Planning Commission Auditorium. He praised the international donor organization for their efforts regarding quality research and improvements in the social development sector of Pakistan and urged them to come forward for philanthropy.
The orientation was arranged by PCP in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Welfare to apprise the International NGOs (INGOs) of PCP’s Nonprofit Organizations (NPO) Certification program. It was attended by representatives from the World Bank, UNDP, UNPF, ActionAid, CIDA and other international donors.
Mr. Lakha, who is also serving as PCP’s Chairman of the board, exhorted government’s relevant ministries and departments as well as the donors to make certification as one of the criteria for financing NPOs. He appreciated PCP’s unique role in promoting a system of evaluating NPOs on standardized parameters based on international best practices.
Speaking on the occasion, Executive Director of PCP Ms. Shahnaz Wazir Ali, highlighted the role of organized social investment in development and the need for synergistic partnership between government and civil society. She explained the certification program to the delegates and mentioned that Pakistan was the first and only country in South Asian region and was second in entire Asia to have developed and implemented and institutional support mechanism for NPO self regulation. Till date, the Centre has granted 143 certificates of good NPO practices against 200 applications. A complete list of certified NPOs is available on PCP’s website
http://www.pcp.org.pk.
Mr. Qazi Azmat Isa, Senior Community Development Specialist, World Bank, reiterated the need of good governance, transparency and accountability for the NPO sector. Maryam Bibi, the founding member of one of PCP certified NPO, “Khwendo Kor” or “Sisters Home” elaborated her experiences for women and children development works in Bannu, Khyber and Bajour agency. She mentioned that the PCP’s certification program has been a great help in her NPO evolving into a strong contributing institution.
The orientation session was addressed by Mr. Fayyaz Baqir, Senior Advisor, senior advisor on civil society, UNDP, Mr. Junaid Iqbal Chaudhry, Additional Secretary, Economic Affairs Division and Mr. Muhammad Jalil Minhas, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education were also present on the occasion.
The delegates from international donor agencies appreciated and commended PCP’s endeavors to bridge the information and credibility gap between grant givers and grant seekers through institutional mechanism of certification.
Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP) was established in 2001 and is an independent nonprofit support organization. The Centre does not engage in direct philanthropy, instead it seeks to help others in their altruistic philanthropic efforts through encouragement and provision of systematic meaningful support services. PCP is the first and so far the only GoP authorized NPO Certification agency in the country.
