Validity of PoR cards, Tripartite Agreement: Afghan refugees granted one month extension

The federal cabinet has granted one month (till January 31, 2018) extension in validity of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards and Tripartite Agreement for Afghan refugees instead of six months, official sources told Business Recorder. On January 3, 2018, during discussion on the issue of Afghan refugees federal cabinet members argued that Afghan refugees are a burden on the economy of the country and Pakistan had incurred huge expenses on them, adding that international organizations like UNHCR etc. may be contacted for their repatriation.
Some of the members maintained that Afghans are involved in terror activities in Pakistan and have been residing in Pakistan for more than 40 years and they should go back to Afghanistan as they are no more refugees now. It was recommended that Afghan government may be contacted for their repatriation and camps of Afghan refugees may be established in Afghanistan and they may be accommodated in these camps and may be provided sustenance till they are able to earn their livelihood.
The cabinet was informed that the Federal cabinet in its meeting of February 7, 2017 had approved extension in the validity of cards and Tripartite Agreement till December 31, 2017 along with documentation of unregistered Afghan nationals in Pakistan. The Tripartite Agreement signed between Pakistan, Afghanistan and UNHCR provides the framework for voluntary repatriation of Afghan Refugees and their management in Pakistan, while POR cards enable legal stay of Afghan nationals in Pakistan. The cabinet was further informed that at present, Pakistan hosts 1.4 million registered and an estimated one million undocumented Afghan nationals. This figure could have been significantly less, if the repatriation trend of 2016 had repeated in 2017. This however, could not be achieved as against a repatriation figure of 629,464 (381,275 registered and 248,189 unregistered Afghans) of 2016, only 59,020 registered and over 96,000 unregistered Afghans returned to Afghanistan in 2017.
The cabinet was apprised that one of the major reasons for high rate of return during 2016 was an enhanced repatriation grant from $ 200 to $ 400 by UNHCR and Government of Afghanistan's commitment of livelihood opportunities, provision of basic amenities, access/allocation of land and assured security to the returning Afghans but both these factors were missing in 2017. Despite several efforts at local, bilateral and global level, the repatriation grant could not be increased to $400 per individual while returning Afghans also did not appear to be satisfied with settlement and security environment in Afghanistan. Pursuant to cabinet decision, the documentation of un-registered Afghans commenced since August 2017 and up-till now over 616,000 individuals have been processed under Afghan Citizen Card project at 21 centres all over the country. The processing under ACC project will conclude on January 31, 2018. However, if felt that all undocumented Afghans in Pakistan have not been covered, the exercise is suggested to continue for another three months. The processing centres are suggested to be reduced from 21 to seven for the extended period of ACC project.
The comprehensive data with biometrics have been collected which will be shared with Government of Afghanistan for policy purposes as well as for issuance of travel documents in Pakistan during the validity of the ACC cards, to be determined by the federal cabinet. During the validity of the ACC, the card holder is required to travel back to Afghanistan on travel documents issued to them by Govt of Afghanistan. After expiry of the validity period for ACC, the card holders will be considered alien on Pakistani soil and can be deported to Afghanistan - those who are already declared as Afghan nationals by the government of Afghanistan under the ACC project.
In view of expiration of POR cards by the end of this year, while processing under ACC project will also end soon, all relevant stakeholders were requested for their comments and recommendation on the two issues during the fourth inter-ministerial meeting on National Policy for Management and Repatriation of Afghan Refugees beyond 2017, held under the Chairmanship of Minister for SAFRON on November 21, 2017. It was further revealed that, after detailed deliberations, the stakeholders recommended that the validity period of ACC may be determined by the federal cabinet. The stakeholders have recommended the following time-periods for extension in validity of PoR cards and Tripartite Agreement: (i) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one year ;(ii) Ministry of Interior, minimum possible or six months;(iii) Ministry of Defence /ISI/MO Dte, minimum possible or six months;(iv) Government of Sindh, minimum possible or six months;(v) Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, no extension;(vi) Government of Punjab, no extension and ;(vii) Government of Balochistan, one year.
The Ministry of SAFRON sought the approval of federal cabinet for six months extension in the validity of PoR cards and Tripartite Agreement. The left over POR card holders, if any, may be dealt with accordingly in June 2018. It was also recommended to determine an appropriate validity/expiry date for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC). After detailed discussion, the cabinet approved one month extension in the validity of POR cards and tripartite agreement.
The Cabinet decided that, in the meanwhile, the States and Frontier Regions Division, may examine the issue through an in-depth consultative process, and come up with plausible solutions to address this chronic issue.