2013 CSO Sustainability Index for Pakistan

The Index uses the same methodology as other editions, which cover sixty-two countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and Afghanistan. A panel of local experts met to discuss progress and setbacks in seven interrelated dimensions of CSO sustainability: legal environment, organizational capacity, financial viability, advocacy, service provision, infrastructure, and public image. The panel assigned scores to the seven dimensions, which were then averaged to produce an overall CSO sustainability score. The 2013 CSO Sustainability Index for Pakistan reports a CSO sustainability score of 4.0. The country's civil society sector encompasses a diverse range of organizations focused on education, health, emergency services, gender rights, and other areas. However, there is great disparity in the capacities and resources among different types of CSOs. Organizations that receive foreign funding tend to be donor-driven and often lack strong constituencies, but they have greater organizational and financial capacities. Grassroots organizations have stronger constituencies and good relationships with the government, but they face capacity constraints and may demonstrate little transparency. The legal environment in Pakistan is rated 3.7, indicating that CSOs can register under multiple laws and ordinances, but implementation is poor and most organizations face a great deal of bureaucracy. The government has shifted dramatically in its relations with CSOs, particularly in KPK and Balochistan, where CSOs need permission from the military to operate. The military is not required to provide reasons for refusing permission, and the criteria for making such decisions remain vague. In 2013, Pakistan underwent its first democratic transition of power following the completion of the 13th National Assembly's five-year term. The national focus during the first half of the year was the general elections, which were held in May. CSOs engaged in the electoral process, especially on voter education, election monitoring, and support to the Election Commission of Pakistan. The elections were declared largely free and fair by both local and foreign independent monitoring teams. However, some of the turbulence from preceding years, including militant attacks, a worsening electricity crisis, and rising inflation, continued in 2013.