President Mohamed Mursi referred a law governing the work of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Egypt to the Shura Council on Monday for discussion since the law is one of the main pillars of a comprehensive plan for development.

Last March, the Shura Council gave its initial approval for the draft law regulating the work of NGOs in Egypt.

A joint committee grouping members of the human development and local management committee and the office for legislative and constitutional affairs drafted the law.

This step comes in order to create integration between all state institutions and NGOs, the presidency wrote on its Facebook page.

A presidential spokesman will hold a press conference on Tuesday at the presidential palace to answer questions about the law, the presidency added.

The draft law aims at launching a partnership between the state and society in Egypt and providing an environment that allows civil society to work within a framework of freedom, transparency and responsibility.

It allows maintaining a balance between Egypt's openness after the revolution on the one hand and sovereignty and independent decision-making on the other.

This law also allows Egyptian expatriates to have an effective role in participating in civil work.