[{"bbox": [85, 153, 1144, 209], "category": "Text", "text": "ad-hoc crises (including the recent COVID pandemic and floods in 2022). CSOs are rooted and work in all sectors of society be they religious, conservative, liberal, from cities or from the countryside⁹."}, {"bbox": [85, 227, 518, 253], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2. Civil society networks and alliances:"}, {"bbox": [85, 254, 1144, 519], "category": "Text", "text": "Civil society networks and alliances in Pakistan play a crucial role in bringing together diverse CSOs around common goals and amplifying their collective impact. These networks and alliances provide platforms for CSOs to collaborate, share resources, coordinate efforts, and jointly advocate for policy reforms and social change. They facilitate information sharing, capacity building, and mutual support among CSOs, while also providing a unified voice to address social, political, and economic challenges. Civil society networks and alliances in Pakistan serve as important catalysts for strengthening civil society engagement, promoting democratic governance, and advancing human rights and social justice issues in the country. Despite their growth, fragmentation and polarisation continue to characterise civil society in Pakistan. CSO networks and alliances need support in improving internal governance; accountability and transparency; digital transformation; networking and collaboration; resource mobilisation and sustainability; results-based reporting; communication; and engagement with their constituencies and the public in general."}, {"bbox": [85, 531, 433, 557], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 3. Emerging civic movements:"}, {"bbox": [85, 559, 1144, 798], "category": "Text", "text": "In recent years, Pakistan has witnessed the emergence of new forms of civic engagement. Women and youth-led movements (articulated around students demands, urban concerns, feminist agendas; etc.) have gained visibility and raised important social issues related to human rights, gender equality, and social justice. These movements have used creative and innovative approaches, including street protests, social media campaigns, and advocacy efforts, to challenge traditional power structures and advocate for change. They highlight the emergence of new leadership and the changing dynamics of civil society and its evolving role in shaping public discourse, advocating for policy reforms, and demanding accountability from authorities. By fostering collaboration, inclusivity, capacity building, information sharing, advocacy, and innovation, the gap between new movements and traditional CSOs in Pakistan can be bridged, leading to more effective civic engagement and positive social change."}, {"bbox": [85, 808, 456, 834], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 4. Ministry of Economic Affairs:"}, {"bbox": [85, 836, 1144, 942], "category": "Text", "text": "The Ministry is responsible for the registration, scrutiny, and issuance of Non-Objection certificates for those local CSOs who seek foreign funds. Where a CSO registered in Pakistan is interested in receiving foreign contributions (money, services and goods being sourced from outside Pakistan), before it does so, it needs to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry as provided by the framework laid down in 2022 NGO Policy."}, {"bbox": [85, 953, 850, 981], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 5. Provincial Regulatory/Registration Bodies (“Charities Commissions”):"}, {"bbox": [85, 981, 1144, 1140], "category": "Text", "text": "Provincial regulatory bodies oversee the implementation of rules and regulations related to CSOs in their respective provinces. The Provincial Governments, as well as the Islamabad Capital Territory, have made it compulsory for CSOs with operations in a particular province/territory to register with their respective charities' commissions. Under the Charities Commission Acts, the respective Commissions are tasked with, inter alia, maintaining public trust in charities, registering, and protecting charities, ensuring their regulatory compliance, and inquiring into the functioning of charities."}, {"bbox": [85, 1152, 1144, 1285], "category": "Text", "text": "Both the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the provincial regulatory bodies can play a vital role in creating an enabling environment for civil society through a more constructive and transparent mechanism for engagement with CSOs. The Ministry and provincial regulatory bodies need support to streamline the registration, reporting, renewal, and compliance of CSOs. They also need to enhance their capacity to facilitate regular and structured exchanges and consultations around relevant policy and implementation issues with civil society."}, {"bbox": [85, 1297, 1144, 1378], "category": "Text", "text": "The proposed action aims to address the institutional and organisational issues faced by these stakeholders by building their capacities, enhancing their understanding of each other's roles and contributions, and improving their engagement with each other to create an enabling environment for civil society in Pakistan."}, {"bbox": [85, 1560, 1132, 1607], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁹ Civil Society and Social Development in Pakistan. How the State can support its development through effective regulation. Briefing Paper No.101. Democracy Reporting International. December 2019"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1682, 1144, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 7 of 26"}]