Out of 135,734 Afghan refugees in Sindh including 130,746 in Karachi, some 92,646 have been registered by Nadra and issued cards. So far 3.5 million Afghan refugees have been repatriated to their country while still 1.7 million are residing in various parts of the country.
This was stated by Federal Minister for States and Frontier Region Najmuddin Khan while addressing a press conference here on Saturday. He said that some 995 families comprising of 4737 individual Afghan Refugees holding Nadra's POR Card returned to their homes during four months from April to July 2009 while 74,116 are still in Sindh.
He said out of 92,646 registered refugees, 4649 repatriated in 2007, 9148 in 2008 and 9148 in 2009. Najmuddin pointed out that Pakistan is playing host to Afghan refugees for the last 30 years while, as per agreement, all the Afghan refugees had to go back by December 31, 2009. He told the journalists that besides the cabinet committee and Interior Ministry, his Ministry called Safron is also working for repatriation of Afghan refugees and efforts are being made to send all of them to their homes with honour in 1-2 years.
He said that Afghan government has been told to arrange for accommodation, jobs and other facilities for returning refugees through UNHCR. Najmuddin said that refugees having been issued POR card would stay in Pakistan till next decision of the cabinet.
To a question, he said, that registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan numbered 1.7 million. He said Pakistan has very long border with Afghanistan and there cannot be check on the entire length. He said that as per international agreement, refugees cannot be repatriated by force.
He told a questioner that recommendations have been made to government for action against unregistered refugees and they should be either deported or arrested. To a question, he said, if Afghan refugees have crossed to Pakistan again after repatriation, it would be an illegal act and action will be taken against such refugees, which can be their arrest or deportation.
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