ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan, a predominantly Muslim country known for persecuting religious minorities, has expelled 18 aid organizations including World Vision.
The expulsions will affect more than 11 million aid recipients in the country that suffers in health care and education, entailing an estimated loss of more than $130 million in annual aid.
World Vision worked to secure help for those served by its life-saving and poverty-reducing programs before it pulled out of Pakistan.
Catholic Relief and the Irish Catholic aid group Trocaire are among the 18 groups expelled, including nonreligious nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) addressing various humanitarian and social justice issues. Another 20 are at risk of expulsion, and nine others were ousted in late 2017.
A total of 27 NGOs were expelled in December 2017, but World Vision was among 18 who appealed the decisions. Pakistan changed NGO registration procedures in 2015. (BP)
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