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Govt taking measures for early return of Afghan refugees
APP
ISLAMABAD – National Assembly Standing Committee on Government Assurances on Thursday was informed that government was taking measures for the return of registered Afghan refugees from Pakistan to their home land Afghanistan as soon as possible. The committee meeting held under the chairmanship of Muhammad Afzal Khokhar here at Parliament House. Briefing the committee secretary ministry of States and Frontier Region (SAFRON) said around 1.6 million registered Afghan refugees are living in Pakistan. He said that legal refugees would stay on until the end of 2015 as per the government's agreement with UNHCR. He said that around one million afghan refugees living in Khyber Puktunkhwa and other remaining refugees are living in Sindh, Punjab, Islamabad and other parts of Pakistan. Replying to a question, he said that the government of Pakistan is taking up the issue with Afghan government and United Nations for early return of registered afghan refugees from Pakistan. The committee member Shahzadi Umerzadi Tiwana said that it is our country interest that Afghan Refugees should go back to their country as soon as possible. “We should watch the interest of the Pakistan and ensure that Afghan Refugees living in the country go back to their home land” She said. She asked SAFRON and other related departments to bring the detail of illegal Afghan refugees and give time frame for the return of Afghan refugees from the country in the next meeting. Shahzadi Tiwana said that the unregistered are illegal aliens and have no right to stay in Pakistan and action should be taken as per law of land against them without further delay. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad informed the committee that the government of Punjab has asked the related department for collecting the data of Afghan nationals who are living illegally in the province and action would be taken as per law against them.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk