ISLAMABAD: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Representative Filippo Grandi met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday to discuss the situation of millions of Afghan refugees who have been living in a precarious situation since Islamabad announced plans last year to repatriate what it calls “illegal foreigners.” According to Dawn newspaper, during his meeting with Grandi, Sharif called on the international community to recognize the “burden of Afghan refugees” Pakistan is carrying and show “collective responsibility” to address the issue.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) arrived in Pakistan on Sunday for a three-day visit.
“The prime minister stressed that the international community must recognise the burden Pakistan is shouldering in hosting such a large number of refugees and show collective responsibility,” a statement from his office said.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader added that despite numerous challenges, the country has received Afghan refugees with exemplary respect and dignity.
Sharif sought UNHCR’s assistance in mobilizing sufficient resources to complement Pakistan’s efforts and called for the agency to play its role in finding a lasting solution to address the situation of Afghan refugees.
According to Dawn, the prime minister stressed that the international community needs to take note of the socio-economic challenges and security threats facing Pakistan.
“The UN High Commissioner expressed his gratitude to Pakistan for its generosity and hospitality in hosting millions of Afghan refugees over the past decades and assured that UNHCR will continue to work closely with Pakistan to meet the basic needs of Afghan refugees,” the statement added.
Pakistan first began deporting what it called “illegal foreigners” in November last year.
There is no official data on the number of illegal immigrants estimated to have left Afghanistan since November, but the paper cited sources as saying that an initial wave of 500,000 migrants had returned to Afghanistan via Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
According to Dawn, Grandi met Pakistan’s Minister of Provincial and Border Affairs Amir Muqam on Monday and said the UNHCR plans to host a global dialogue, probably in October, to discuss refugee-related issues.
“Pakistan will be specially invited to mark this occasion,” the UNHCR chief said, adding that he hoped the event would create new dimensions and avenues for supporting refugees around the world.
“Currently, there are 1.45 million registered Afghan national card holders, but this does not include the large number of Afghan refugees and other nationals who are unregistered,” Federal Minister Muqam said.
He added that the decline in aid for Afghan refugees and development funding to refugee-hosting areas in Pakistan was “worrisome.”
“We need interventions that are exclusive, generous and sustainable,” he said.
According to a foreign ministry statement, Grandi also met Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday and appreciated Pakistan’s efforts and contributions in hosting Afghan refugees over the decades.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) arrived in Pakistan on Sunday for a three-day visit.
“The prime minister stressed that the international community must recognise the burden Pakistan is shouldering in hosting such a large number of refugees and show collective responsibility,” a statement from his office said.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader added that despite numerous challenges, the country has received Afghan refugees with exemplary respect and dignity.
Sharif sought UNHCR’s assistance in mobilizing sufficient resources to complement Pakistan’s efforts and called for the agency to play its role in finding a lasting solution to address the situation of Afghan refugees.
According to Dawn, the prime minister stressed that the international community needs to take note of the socio-economic challenges and security threats facing Pakistan.
“The UN High Commissioner expressed his gratitude to Pakistan for its generosity and hospitality in hosting millions of Afghan refugees over the past decades and assured that UNHCR will continue to work closely with Pakistan to meet the basic needs of Afghan refugees,” the statement added.
Pakistan first began deporting what it called “illegal foreigners” in November last year.
There is no official data on the number of illegal immigrants estimated to have left Afghanistan since November, but the paper cited sources as saying that an initial wave of 500,000 migrants had returned to Afghanistan via Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
According to Dawn, Grandi met Pakistan’s Minister of Provincial and Border Affairs Amir Muqam on Monday and said the UNHCR plans to host a global dialogue, probably in October, to discuss refugee-related issues.
“Pakistan will be specially invited to mark this occasion,” the UNHCR chief said, adding that he hoped the event would create new dimensions and avenues for supporting refugees around the world.
“Currently, there are 1.45 million registered Afghan national card holders, but this does not include the large number of Afghan refugees and other nationals who are unregistered,” Federal Minister Muqam said.
He added that the decline in aid for Afghan refugees and development funding to refugee-hosting areas in Pakistan was “worrisome.”
“We need interventions that are exclusive, generous and sustainable,” he said.
According to a foreign ministry statement, Grandi also met Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday and appreciated Pakistan’s efforts and contributions in hosting Afghan refugees over the decades.
