KARACHI: The Sindh Social Welfare Department has ordered all foreign, national, and community-based NGOs working in the province to give priority to hiring local residents for their projects.
The directive, issued by Sindh Social Welfare Secretary Agha Sohail Ahmed, instructs commissioners of Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, and Larkana divisions, along with all deputy commissioners, to ensure its strict implementation.
The provincial government has expressed concern over the trend of NGOs employing staff from outside Sindh, instead of providing jobs to local communities.
Under Pakistan’s 2015 INGO Policy, foreign NGOs can operate only with the Interior Ministry’s permission. As of October 2023, there were 114 registered foreign NGOs in the country, while Sindh alone has over 40,000 local and community-based NGOs.
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The letter, issued under instructions from Sindh Social Welfare Minister Mir Tariq Talpur, asks all International NGOs (INGOs), local NGOs, and community-based organizations (CBOs) to adjust their hiring practices to maximize employment opportunities for Sindh residents.
The move aims to boost community participation, strengthen local ownership of welfare projects, and support socio-economic development in the province.
Commissioners and deputy commissioners have been asked to share these instructions with all relevant organizations and monitor compliance. NGOs facing any difficulties in following the policy have been advised to report them to the Social Welfare Department for resolution.
Copies of the directive have also been sent to divisional and deputy directors of the Social Welfare Department, the Principal Secretary to the Sindh Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary’s office, and other concerned authorities.
