UNHCR lauds Pak hosting of Afghan refugees

The United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHCR) Country Representative in Pakistan Ruvendrini Menikdiwela called on Governor Balochistan Amanullah Yasinzai in Quetta.

During the meeting, matters pertaining to the Afghan refugees came under discussion.

Governor Balochistan on this occasion said the ongoing UNHCR programmes including education and health would have positive impact on the people of the areas.

The UNHCR Country Representative thanked Pakistani government for serving Afghan refugees for four decades.

Earlier this month, Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas informed by senior officials of Ministry of States and Frontier Regions that 2.8 million Afghan refugees were still residing in Pakistan.

The meeting held at Parliament House with Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar in the chair.

It was also briefed regarding the Federal Levies in Ex Federally Administered Tribal Areas and in Balochistan province in the light of the directions in its meeting held on February 28, 2019 and May 24, 2019.

The committee also briefed regarding the SAFRON on Annual Development Programmes (ADPs), roads and education issues in erstwhile tribal areas during the last five years.

Chief Commissioner Afghan Refugees Saleem Khan briefed the committee regarding the status and number of Afghan Refugees, including future programs and work done during last 5 years including health, accommodation and their identity cards etc.

He informed the committee that out of 2.8 million Afghan Refugees 1.4 million registered, whereas 8.5 lac held registration cards and 5 lac others were living without any documentation.

He said that 32 per cent Afghan refugees were still residing in camps, while 68 per cent have shifted out of refugees camps.