LAHORE: The 26th meeting of the Punjab Charities Commission was held under the chairmanship of Secretary Home Punjab Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi to review the monitoring and performance of charitable organisations and NGOs and take key decisions to strengthen regulatory oversight.
Secretary Housing and Commissioner Punjab Charities Commission Noor-ul-Amin Mengal attended the meeting online, while Commissioner Punjab Charities Commission Dr. Usama Siddique was also present. Chief Executive Officer Colonel Shehzad Amir briefed the meeting on the Commission’s performance and future plans.
The meeting was informed that the Punjab Charities Commission was implementing a programme to enhance the capacity of NGOs across the province. The Commission maintains regular contact with 8,345 NGOs operating in Punjab and is providing them with training to help prevent risks such as Money Laundering and Terror-Financing.
Participants were briefed that an audit management system had been introduced to promote transparency in charitable organisations and prevent money laundering and the misuse of NGOs by terrorist groups. A monitoring and accountability mechanism has also been established to oversee charitable organisations, their administrators and beneficiaries. The meeting was further informed that suspicious activities trigger inquiries and audits of the relevant charitable organisations.
In cases of violations of the law, permission granted to an organisation to collect donations may be revoked. The Commission is also providing necessary guidance, training and consultation to charitable organisations, trustees and staff.
The Punjab Charities Commission is guiding charitable organisations through a comprehensive system that includes a chatbot and a risk-based assessment framework. The meeting also received a briefing on inquiries and enforcement actions initiated against NGOs found violating the law.
Addressing the meeting, Secretary Home Punjab Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi said that establishing a peaceful and harmonious society was among the foremost priorities of the Punjab government. He emphasised that registration of all charitable organisations with the Punjab Charities Commission was mandatory. He said that mutual trust, transparency and cooperation were essential to building strong relationships between the government and civil society. The Punjab Charities Commission was working to maintain public trust in charitable organisations, he added.
Dr. Qazi stressed that protecting the rights and interests of charitable organisations and their intended beneficiaries was the responsibility of the Commission. He directed all charitable organisations to ensure strict compliance with the law in the utilisation of charitable funds. The Secretary Home further directed the Punjab Charities Commission to continue fulfilling its regulatory responsibilities while taking steps to facilitate and guide charitable organisations.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026