A new fact-finding report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has exposed alleged systematic pressure against rights-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across Punjab, stating that the state and bureaucratic system is being used to restrict the activities of civil society.
The report, titled “Regulation or Restriction? The Shrinking Space for Rights-based NGOs in Punjab”, states that the space for civil liberties is continuously shrinking, reflecting the democratic backwardness in the country. The report is based on a four-day fact-finding mission conducted in Lahore and Multan from October 29 to November 1, 2025, which included interviews with representatives of organizations from different districts of the province.
According to the report, NGOs have to go through a complex and multi-level approval process to continue operating. After the implementation of the Foreign Funding Policy of the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) in 2015, it became mandatory for organizations to obtain a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) before receiving external funding.
In addition, the need for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the district administration and re-registration with the Punjab Charities Commission after 2018 has further complicated the process. According to the report, in some cases, organizations were instructed to remove words like “human rights”, “democracy” and “governance” from their projects.
The report cites several examples where delays in registration and government hurdles led to ongoing projects being shut down and donors withdrawing funding.
Prominent among these is the case of the Democratic Commission for Human Development (DCHD), whose bank accounts were frozen, projects related to child labor were halted and ultimately the organization had to shut down its activities altogether.
Similarly, a women’s rights organization in northern Punjab had its accounts frozen, its programs disrupted, and participants’ information leaked, prompting threats.
According to the report, several smaller organizations have begun to retreat from their core mission in order to survive. Some have scaled back their activities, while others have closed down altogether. According to one representative:
“Many of us have reduced our work just to survive — to continue the struggle another day.”
HRCP says this situation is dangerous not only for civil society but also for the democratic process as a whole, where dissenting voices are being stifled by state surveillance and regulatory measures.
The report stresses that without a transparent, simple, and non-discriminatory regulatory framework, civil liberties and democratic values cannot be protected.
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