News
Friday, January 21, 2011
Bodies formed to manage Afghan refugees in Pakistan
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) and the UN refugee agency on Thursday announced the formation of six different sub-committees for the pragmatic implementation of the government’s strategy for the management of Afghans in Pakistan that was endorsed by the cabinet on March 24, 2010.
The multidimensional strategy for the management and repatriation of Afghans in Pakistan includes extending the validity of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for Afghans until the end of 2012 and also extends the Tripartite Commission Agreement between UNHCR, Pakistan and Afghanistan for another three years, to guarantee and maintain the voluntary nature of the ongoing repatriation of Afghans in line with the security situation and capacity of Afghanistan to absorb returning refugees.
Other components of the strategy include arrangements for some of the unregistered members of registered Afghan families, a visa regime to manage the stay of Afghan business people, students and other categories. Families headed by women in the absence of a male breadwinner will be allowed to stay.
“The practical steps taken today on establishment of the provincial level sub-committees will pave the way for implementation of the Afghan management and repatriation strategy for Afghans,” said the UNHCR representative in Pakistan Mengesha Kebede. Fida Wazir, chief commissioner for Afghan refugees in Pakistan, stated that the sub-committees at the provincial level would work closely with the other departments towards making concerted efforts for realisation of various types of solutions.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk