Pakistan extends stay of Afghan refugees for another year

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government has decided to extend the stay of registered Afghan refugees living in Pakistan till June 30 next year.

A notification in this regard was issued on Thursday, coinciding with the visit of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

The notified by the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) comes ahead of the current extension which ends on June 30, 2019.

“In pursuance of approval of the Federal Cabinet conveyed vide Cabinet Division’s Memorandum No.550(S)/Rule-19/2019-Cab, dated 27 June, 2019, the Government of Pakistan is pleased to extend the Validity in respect of Tripartite Agreement, Proof of Registration (PoR) Cards till 30-06-2020,” read the notification.

The ministry also announced an extension in the validity of Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) till October 31, 2019.

As per data collected by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there were 1,405,715 registered Afghan refugees and 210,465 Afghan families in Pakistan as of June 3, 2019; the agency lauded the decision of the government.

“We appreciate the government decision to extend the PoR cards for twelve months, since this will provide predictability to Afghan refugees who were facing uncertainty and anxiety,” said UNHCR Country Representative in Pakistan, Ruvendrini Menikdiwela in a press release.