ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government on Wednesday allowed registered Afghan refugees to extend their stay by one year until June 30 next year, offering a reprieve to Afghan nationals legally residing in the country who were facing deportation.
The decision was taken a day after visiting United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi (UNHCR) met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“The Federal Cabinet has approved the extension by one year to the validity of PoR (Proof of Registration) cards of 1.45 lakh Afghan refugees. Their PoR cards were due to expire on June 30, 2024. The extension has been granted till June 30, 2025,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
The decision, taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sharif, comes amid reports that Pakistan has halted repatriation of Afghans without legal documents.
Last October, the interim government announced its decision to expel all illegal foreigners, dealing a particularly hard blow to Afghans living in Pakistan.
The forced deportation of illegal Afghan refugees has been ongoing since the government gave them an ultimatum to leave Pakistan by November 1 last year.
There is no official data, but it is believed that around 500,000 Afghans living illegally have left the country.
Nearly 1.7 million Afghans are said to have been living in Pakistan illegally for decades.
Meanwhile, the UNHCR welcomed the Afghans’ decision to extend their stay, Dawn reported.
“This is a major relief for refugees who have been facing uncertainty and insecurity,” UNHCR spokesman Kaisar Khan Afridi told the paper.
He said the “generous act” demonstrated Pakistan’s commitment to the global refugee crisis and demonstrated “solidarity and compassion towards refugees at a time when they need our support.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs denied the UNHCR chief’s claim that Pakistan had stopped deporting illegal migrants.
“This is not true. It should be noted that no such understanding has been expressed by Pakistan to UNHCR, including in its recent meetings with the High Commissioner for Refugees,” Mumtaz Zehra Baloch told the paper.
Earlier, UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi met Pakistani leaders at the end of a three-day visit on Tuesday and confirmed the suspension of the repatriation plan.
Published July 10, 2024 17:04 IST
