Government Orders Shutdown of INGOs, Sindh Plans School Transfers

The federal government has ordered two international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), “Vital Strategies” and the US-based “Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids,” to cease operations due to alleged unregulated activities.

The Ministry of Interior has directed the State Bank of Pakistan to freeze their accounts and instructed the provincial governments, along with those of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, to shut down their offices.

Despite collaborating with the Ministry of Health for years, both INGOs have been operating without government approval, ARY News reported. Neither is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) or the Economic Affairs Division, raising compliance concerns.

This move is part of a broader crackdown on INGOs that fail to meet regulatory requirements.

In a separate development, the Sindh government plans to transfer 100 poorly performing schools to major NGOs to improve their operations. According to the Sindh Education Ministry, 60 schools in Karachi and 40 in other parts of the province will be handed over under this initiative, led by the caretaker minister, to raise educational standards.