When Iftikhar Nizami, the former country director of ActionAid in Pakistan, received a government notice to shut down his NGO’s operations in December, he was stunned. In 2005, the South Africa-based organization distributed critical emergency relief during a major earthquake in Kashmir, prompting the government to issue a letter lauding its humanitarian and development assistance. Now the government was striking a different tone altogether. “If there was more communication and discussion beforehand, it would’ve been very helpful,” Nizami said of the decision. “I am sure there are misunderstandings.”

“We are very transparent: We are following international regulations, we do audits from companies, we share all of the information with the government. We follow all the directives,” Nizami stressed.

Nevertheless, ActionAid is one of more than 20 international NGOs that the Pakistani government has expelled from the country in December — giving them until January 25 to wind down their operations. The list of organizations affected — which includes Marie Stopes, World Vision, the Danish Refugee Council, Plan International, and Open Society Foundations — has left the entire civil society sector reeling and questioning the way forward in an uncertain environment. The affected areas of operation are wide reaching, ranging from INGOs that provide services to Afghan refugees in Pakistan to organizations helping Pakistani women access contraception.

Read the full article about Pakistan's crackdown on NGOs by Sabrina Toppa at Devex International Development.